|
|
Cloud-water interception (CWI) is the process by which fog or cloud water droplets are captured and accumulate on the leaves and branches of plants, some of which drips to the ground. Prior studies in Hawai'i indicate that CWI is highly variable and can contribute substantially to total precipitation. In this study, we monitored CWI and other processes at five mountain field sites on the Islands of Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi to explore how CWI (1) varies with different climate and vegetation characteristics, (2) affects plant water use and growth, and (3) contributes to water resources. Results show that annual CWI varied from 158 to 910 mm, accounting for 3-34% of total water input at individual sites. This large...
|
Throughout the world, forests cover mountain slopes only up at a certain elevation. Above that level, trees become scattered. Higher up, no trees are found. The level where the forest ends, called the forest line or timberline, is higher in tropical areas than in colder regions, suggesting that cold climate conditions prevent forests from growing at higher elevations. On tropical island mountains, such as those in the Hawaiian Islands, the forest line is found at a lower elevation than we would expect based on the temperature. This leads us to suspect that some factor other than temperature, such as low rainfall, might be controlling the level of forest lines on these tropical islands. In this project, we sought...
Categories: Publication;
Types: Citation;
Tags: Climate,
Drought,
Drought,
Drought, Fire and Extreme Weather,
El Niño, All tags...
Extreme Weather,
Forest,
Forests,
Landscapes,
Pacific Islands CASC,
Plants,
Wildlife and Plants, Fewer tags
|
|
