Interception: Its Importance, its Isotopic Impact, and How to Model and Measure it

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeChapterScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Abstract Interception of precipitation by land cover and subsequent evaporation is an essential hydrological process. In the terrestrial hydrological cycle, it is the first process after precipitation. As such, it affects all subsequent processes in the cycle. Not only does interception amount to a considerable part of the total terrestrial evaporation (about 30–35% of total terrestrial evaporation, globally) it also has a considerable impact on terrestrial moisture recycling and isotope fractionation. Furthermore, it facilitates preferential recharge, which is advantageous to ecosystem and water resources, alike. If interception is not conceptualized correctly in hydrological models, then the calibration of runoff processes is negatively affected. This article provides the theoretical background to conceptualizing the interception process, as well as methods to observe and compute interception, illustrated with global distribution maps.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of Water
Subtitle of host publicationScience, Technology, and Society
PublisherAmerican Cancer Society
Pages1-8
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9781119300762
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • hydrological process
  • modeling interception
  • observation of interception

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Interception: Its Importance, its Isotopic Impact, and How to Model and Measure it'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this