Articles | Volume 23, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019
Research article
 | 
30 Oct 2019
Research article |  | 30 Oct 2019

Neighbourhood and stand structure affect stemflow generation in a heterogeneous deciduous temperate forest

Johanna C. Metzger, Jens Schumacher, Markus Lange, and Anke Hildebrandt

Data sets

Stemflow volumes and potentially influencing vegetation properties in a mixed beech forest (Hainich forest) J. C. Metzger and A. Hildebrandt https://doi.org/10.25829/idiv.1808-14-2655

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Short summary
Variation in stemflow (rain water running down the stem) enhances the formation of flow hot spots at the forest floor. Investigating drivers based on detailed measurements, we find that forest structure affects stemflow, both for individual trees and small communities. Densely packed forest patches received more stemflow, due to a higher proportion of woody structure and canopy morphology adjustments, which increase the potential for flow path generation connecting crowns and soil.