grantor:
University of TorontoMeasurements of gross precipitation, throughfall, stemflow and litter interception loss in a northern hardwood stand in Southern Ontario were made during the summer of 1995. Equations were derived for estimating the quantitative importance of each of the following water fluxes under summer canopy conditions: Throughfall, stemflow, canopy interception loss and total interception loss (canopy interception loss + litter interception loss) and net precipitation entering the soil. Gross precipitation depth and intensity had a significant effect (Ã = 0.05) on all water fluxes while event duration, proportion of canopy openings and wind velocity above the canopy did not. The importance of litter interception, which has been largely ignored in previous interception studies, was found to be significant. Interception loss from the litter layer was ~6% of gross precipitation and ~25% of total interception loss from the stand. Throughfall, stemflow and canopy interception loss variability was determined and possible factors influencing the variability of these fluxes are examined.M.Sc
