24.2.2. Throughfall

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is throughfall?

   Hint

   Think about how water behaves when it hits leaves.

2. 2.

   Name one factor that influences throughfall.

   Hint

   More trees can mean more water is retained.

3. 3.

   What is throughfall?

   • Water that evaporates from the canopy
   • Water dripping to the ground from leaves
   • Water that flows down the stem

   Hint

   Focus on the process after the precipitation interacts with the vegetation.

4. 4.

   True or False: Throughfall is a component of interception.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Remember the definition of interception.

5. 5.

   You have a forest area that receives 200 mm of precipitation with a canopy storage capacity of 30%. If the vegetation is broadleaf, estimate the throughfall assuming an interception coefficient of 0.25.

   Hint

   What formulas have we covered to figure interception?

6. 6.

   How would the transition from a dense forest to an open grassland affect the amount of throughfall in the same area?

   Hint

   Consider how light and airy grasslands are compared to dense trees.