1. What is Interception Storage?

Interception Storage is the ability of vegetation surfaces to collect and retain precipitation. It represents the portion of rainfall that is temporarily held on plant surfaces before either evaporating back to the atmosphere or reaching the ground.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( S_i \) — Interception Storage (Millimeter)
• \( I_i \) — Interception Loss (Millimeter)
• \( K_i \) — Ratio of Vegetal Surface Area to Projected Area
• \( E_r \) — Evaporation Rate (Millimeter per Hour)
• \( t \) — Duration of the Rainfall (Hour)

Explanation: The formula calculates the amount of precipitation retained by vegetation by subtracting the product of vegetation ratio, evaporation rate, and rainfall duration from the total interception loss.

3. Importance of Interception Storage Calculation

Details: Accurate interception storage calculation is crucial for hydrological modeling, water balance studies, and understanding the role of vegetation in the water cycle. It helps in predicting actual rainfall reaching the ground surface and managing water resources effectively.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all values in appropriate units. Interception Loss and Evaporation Rate should be in millimeters, Duration in hours. The vegetation ratio is a dimensionless value. All values must be non-negative.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Interception Loss?
A: Interception Loss is the portion of precipitation that is returned to the atmosphere through evaporation from plant surfaces or is absorbed by the plant.

Q2: How is the Ratio of Vegetal Surface Area to Projected Area determined?
A: This ratio is typically measured experimentally and varies by vegetation type. It represents the factor contributing to rainfall interception and levels off to a constant value for specified storms.

Q3: What factors affect Evaporation Rate?
A: Evaporation rate is influenced by temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. It's typically measured using evaporation pans or calculated using meteorological data.

Q4: Can interception storage be negative?
A: In theory, interception storage should not be negative as it represents actual water retained. However, if the calculated value is negative, it may indicate measurement errors or that evaporation exceeded the interception capacity during the rainfall period.

Q5: How does vegetation type affect interception storage?
A: Different vegetation types have varying interception capacities based on their surface area, leaf structure, and density. Dense forests typically have higher interception storage than grasslands or agricultural crops.