Variation in leaf area density drives the rainfall storage capacity of individual urban tree species

Abstract

A rapid rise of urban population is making cities denser. Consequently, the proportion of impervious surface cover has enlarged, increasing the amount and speed of run-off reaching urban catchment areas, which may cause flash flooding. Trees play a key role to reduce run-off in the city, as they intercept rainfall and store part of it on their leaves and branches, reducing the amount and speed of water running onto impervious surfaces. Storage capacity will depend on the rainfall event, the climate conditions and tree characteristics and canopy density. These canopy characteristics vary greatly among different species and their phenology. Furthermore, these canopy characteristics can vary gr..