Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Volume 28, issue 16, 3837–3854, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3837-2024
Involved members of MultiTroph: Thomas Scholten, Steffen Seitz
Summary: The study investigated how rainfall is redistributed through the canopy of subtropical forests in China and how this process has changed over 22 years (2001-2022). Based on monitoring 740 valid rainfall events, the research found that at the event scale, both the throughfall ratio (rain passing through the canopy) and the stemflow ratio (rain running down the trunk) were higher in pine forests than in mixed or broadleaf forests. Over time, throughfall and stemflow in the broadleaf forests showed higher variability compared to the other two forest types. The study also found significant differences in rainwater chemistry among the three forest types, which also changed over time.
Conclusion: The findings show that rainfall redistribution patterns change over time and that these changes are driven by both rainfall characteristics and forest type. The study provides a long-term perspective on rainfall redistribution processes by connecting changes in rainfall patterns with the stages of subtropical forest succession.