Urban-Scale Quantification of Rainfall Interception Drivers in Tree Communities: Implications for Sponge City Planning

Chaonan Xu, Xiya Zhu, Xiaoyang Tan, Runxin Zhang, Baoguo Liu, Kun Wang, Enkai Xu, Ang Li, Ho Yi Wan, Peihao Song () and Shidong Ge ()
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Chaonan Xu: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Xiya Zhu: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Xiaoyang Tan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), 2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama 240-0115, Kanagawa, Japan
Runxin Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Baoguo Liu: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Kun Wang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Enkai Xu: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Ang Li: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Ho Yi Wan: Department of Wildlife, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521, USA
Peihao Song: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Shidong Ge: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, No. 63 Nongye Road, Zhengzhou 450002, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Urban trees play a crucial role in regulating hydrological processes within urban ecosystems by intercepting rainfall to effectively reduce surface runoff and mitigate urban flooding. Current research lacks a systematic quantification of rainfall interception capacity and its community-level impacts at the urban scale. This study adopts a city-scale perspective, integrating field survey data with the i-Tree Eco model to systematically explore the contributions of 20 factors to the average annual rainfall interception of tree species and the average annual rainfall interception efficiency of communities. The study revealed that Deciduous broadleaf trees (1.28 m 3 year −1 ) and Pure coniferous forests (90.7 mm year −1 ) exhibited substantial rainfall interception capacity. Relative Height, Average Tree Height, Average Crown Width, and Planting Density of trees significantly influence interception capacity. Urban planning can optimize the selection of tree species (e.g., Paulownia , Populus tomentosa , etc.) and community structure (e.g., mixed planting of conifers and deciduous broadleaf trees) to improve rainfall interception capacity, thereby effectively reducing stormwater runoff, mitigating the risk of urban flooding. These findings provide a scientific basis for designing urban vegetation to mitigate flooding, support water management, and advance sponge city development.

Keywords: urban trees; rainfall interception; tree communities; i-Tree Eco model; Zhengzhou; sponge city (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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