Canopy Interception of Different Rainfall Patterns in the Rocky Mountain Areas of Northern China: An Application of the Revised Gash Model

Abstract

Canopy interception is an important part of forest ecosystem hydrological processes. It is the first stage of water distribution when rainfall reaches the canopy and has an important impact on nutrient inputs and water exchange. Pinus tabulaeformis is a main tree species in the rocky mountain areas of Northern China, and it is also a primary species for artificial afforestation. In previous studies of canopy interception, applications of the revised Gash model did not take rainfall characteristics into account. Therefore, in this study, rainfall patterns were divided according to the local rainfall characteristics in the rocky mountainous areas of Northern China. Rainfall was divided into three patterns. Rain pattern A was the main rainfall type. Rainfall patterns B and C were two types of rainstorms. Next, the revised Gash model was used to simulate Pinus tabulaeformis plantations under different rainfall patterns. The results showed that the canopy interception rate of Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in this area ranged from 14.7% to 17.9%. The revised Gash model can be used to simulate Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in the rocky mountainous areas of Northern China, with good simulation results for more than 80% of the conventional rainfall patterns. Furthermore, the canopy interception effect of simulated cumulative rainfall events was better than the individual rainfall event. The simulation effect for special rainfall patterns was not good, so it is necessary to improve the model parameters or collect more rainfall samples. These results can be used to explore the applicability of the revised Gash model in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in the rocky mountain areas of Northern China. They also demonstrate different applicability of the model under different rainfall characteristics.