Articles | Volume 23, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3865-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3865-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Sep 2019
Research article |
| 23 Sep 2019
| 23 Sep 2019
The importance of city trees for reducing net rainfall: comparing measurements and simulations
Vincent Smets
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Willy Bauwens
Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Martin Hermy
Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Ben Somers
Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Boud Verbeiren
Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The effect of plant size and branch traits on rainfall interception of 10 temperate tree species S. Pflug et al. 10.1002/eco.2349
- Quantifying urban tree canopy interception in the southeastern United States M. Howard et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127741
- Urban flood regulating ecosystem services under climate change: how can Nature-based Solutions contribute? T. Wübbelmann et al. 10.3389/frwa.2023.1081850
- Mapping Functional Urban Green Types Using High Resolution Remote Sensing Data J. Degerickx et al. 10.3390/su12052144
- Evaluating the Influence of Rain Event Characteristics on Rainfall Interception by Urban Trees Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis K. Zabret & M. Šraj 10.3390/w11122659
- Impact of shading on evapotranspiration and water stress of urban trees L. Tams et al. 10.1002/eco.2556
- IoT Monitoring of Urban Tree Ecosystem Services: Possibilities and Challenges V. Matasov et al. 10.3390/f11070775
- Urban forest species selection for improvement of ecological benefits in Polish cities - The actual and forecast potential M. Kacprzak et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121732
- City Diagnosis as a Strategic Component in Preparing Urban Areas for Climate Change: Insights from the ‘City with Climate’ Project K. Samborska-Goik et al. 10.3390/app15084092
- Urban trees left high and dry – Modelling urban trees water supply and evapotranspiration under drought B. Kluge & M. Kirmaier 10.1088/2515-7620/ad7dda
- Rainfall interception by urban trees: Event characteristics and tree morphological traits M. Anys & M. Weiler 10.1002/hyp.15146
- Urban tree drought stress: Sap flow measurements, model validation, and water management simulations L. Tams et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177221
- An evaluation of the stormwater runoff reduction of two distinct tree species to support urban greening as nature-based solutions M. Alivio et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128792
- Estimating rainfall interception of xerophytic deciduous shrubs by static- and variable-parameter Gash models with stem- and leaf-dominated canopy water storage Y. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130031
- Street‐side trees control pavement wetness in a moist‐temperate region with cold winters G. Matlack et al. 10.1002/eco.2704
- Towards optimized runoff reduction by urban tree cover: A review of key physical tree traits, site conditions, and management strategies A. Dowtin et al. 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104849
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The effect of plant size and branch traits on rainfall interception of 10 temperate tree species S. Pflug et al. 10.1002/eco.2349
- Quantifying urban tree canopy interception in the southeastern United States M. Howard et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127741
- Urban flood regulating ecosystem services under climate change: how can Nature-based Solutions contribute? T. Wübbelmann et al. 10.3389/frwa.2023.1081850
- Mapping Functional Urban Green Types Using High Resolution Remote Sensing Data J. Degerickx et al. 10.3390/su12052144
- Evaluating the Influence of Rain Event Characteristics on Rainfall Interception by Urban Trees Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis K. Zabret & M. Šraj 10.3390/w11122659
- Impact of shading on evapotranspiration and water stress of urban trees L. Tams et al. 10.1002/eco.2556
- IoT Monitoring of Urban Tree Ecosystem Services: Possibilities and Challenges V. Matasov et al. 10.3390/f11070775
- Urban forest species selection for improvement of ecological benefits in Polish cities - The actual and forecast potential M. Kacprzak et al. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121732
- City Diagnosis as a Strategic Component in Preparing Urban Areas for Climate Change: Insights from the ‘City with Climate’ Project K. Samborska-Goik et al. 10.3390/app15084092
- Urban trees left high and dry – Modelling urban trees water supply and evapotranspiration under drought B. Kluge & M. Kirmaier 10.1088/2515-7620/ad7dda
- Rainfall interception by urban trees: Event characteristics and tree morphological traits M. Anys & M. Weiler 10.1002/hyp.15146
- Urban tree drought stress: Sap flow measurements, model validation, and water management simulations L. Tams et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177221
- An evaluation of the stormwater runoff reduction of two distinct tree species to support urban greening as nature-based solutions M. Alivio et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128792
- Estimating rainfall interception of xerophytic deciduous shrubs by static- and variable-parameter Gash models with stem- and leaf-dominated canopy water storage Y. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130031
- Street‐side trees control pavement wetness in a moist‐temperate region with cold winters G. Matlack et al. 10.1002/eco.2704
- Towards optimized runoff reduction by urban tree cover: A review of key physical tree traits, site conditions, and management strategies A. Dowtin et al. 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104849
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 23 Apr 2025
Short summary
The impact of city trees for intercepting rainfall is quantified using measurements and modeling tools. The measurements show that an important amount of rainfall is intercepted, limiting the amount of water reaching the ground. Models are used to extrapolate the measurement results. The performance of two specialized interception models and one water balance model is evaluated. Our results show that the performance of the water balance model is similar to the specialized interception models.
The impact of city trees for intercepting rainfall is quantified using measurements and modeling...
