Formula Used:
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The Ratio of Vegetal Surface Area to Projected Area is the factor contributing to rainfall and levels off to a constant value for specified storms. It represents the relationship between the actual surface area of vegetation and its projected ground area.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio by subtracting interception storage from interception loss, then dividing by the product of evaporation rate and rainfall duration.
Details: This ratio is crucial for understanding how vegetation affects rainfall interception and evaporation processes. It helps in hydrological modeling and predicting water balance in vegetated areas.
Tips: Enter interception loss and interception storage in mm, evaporation rate in mm/h, and duration of rainfall in hours. All values must be valid (positive values, with evaporation rate and duration greater than 0).
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: What is interception storage?
A: Interception storage is the ability of vegetation surfaces to collect and retain precipitation.
Q3: How is evaporation rate measured?
A: Evaporation rate is typically measured using evaporation pans or calculated from meteorological data using empirical formulas.
Q4: What factors affect this ratio?
A: Vegetation type, density, leaf area index, and storm characteristics all influence the ratio of vegetal surface area to projected area.
Q5: How is this ratio used in practice?
A: This ratio is used in hydrological models to predict interception losses and better understand the water balance in forested and vegetated watersheds.