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Forests
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Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems
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Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 5378

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhangwen Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Interests: remote sensing; precipitation; climatology; weather prediction; pollution; environmental protection
Prof. Dr. Shirong Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Interests: forest ecosystems; eco-hydrology; forest landscape restoration; climate change and forest resilience; multifunctional forest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Demands for water services from forested ecosystems have dramatically increased since the 1950s, and the trend continues as global environmental change intensifies in the 21st century. Forests play a critical role in regulating the hydrologic cycle, impacting the surface and groundwater dynamics of watersheds through transpiration, interception, shading, and modification of the atmospheric boundary layer. It is, therefore, critical that forest dynamics be adequately represented in watershed models. Predicting the effects of forested ecosystems on watershed processes and streamflow is a complex activity. Models are increasingly used to investigate the potential effects of forest management on hydrologic processes and the resulting consequences for watershed values. Therefore, it becomes particularly important to be able to build and select appropriate hydrological models to carry out simulations of hydrological processes in forested ecosystems.

The Special Issue, entitled "Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems", encourages the submission of comprehensive multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary contributions related to hydrological modelling of forest ecosystems, including model establishment, model improvement, modelling reviews, and simulation of hydrological processes in forest ecosystems. All theoretical, methodological, and practical studies of forest ecosystem hydrological simulation are welcome.

Dr. Zhangwen Liu
Prof. Dr. Shirong Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest hydrology
  • streamflow
  • hydrological processes
  • forecasts and projections
  • climate change
  • hydrological modelling
  • forested ecosystems

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 7680 KiB  
Article
The Response of Vegetation Dynamics to Climate in Xinjiang from 1991 to 2018
by Yiwen Liu, Yanni Zhao, Wentong Wu, Xinmao Ao and Rensheng Chen
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2065; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122065 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 510
Abstract
Vegetation change is one of the most prominent features of terrestrial ecosystems responding to climate change. Further exploration of vegetation characteristics in this context is essential for accurately understanding and predicting ecosystem processes. Xinjiang, an arid region, is highly sensitive to slight climate [...] Read more.
Vegetation change is one of the most prominent features of terrestrial ecosystems responding to climate change. Further exploration of vegetation characteristics in this context is essential for accurately understanding and predicting ecosystem processes. Xinjiang, an arid region, is highly sensitive to slight climate changes, which can significantly affect vegetation dynamics. Therefore, determining the relationship between climate and vegetation is of paramount importance. Based on this, this study focused on Xinjiang, selecting remote sensing data (including NDVI, LAI, and GPP) as evaluating indices, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of vegetation response to climate from 1991 to 2018 were analyzed using synchronized meteorological data, examining the relationship between vegetation and climate. The results indicated that NDVI, LAI, and GPP all increased during the period, with slopes of 0.52, 0.14 m2/m2, and 1.19 g C m−2 yr−1, showing significant spatial heterogeneity in distribution. The net vegetation area increased by more than 20,000 km2, with cropland experiencing the largest increase. Vegetation in northern Xinjiang showed a more significant positive response to increased precipitation and temperature, while vegetation in southern Xinjiang responded more complexly and exhibited negative correlations with climatic factors. The results emphasized the varied responses of vegetation to climate variables, with temperature having a more complex effect on vegetation change, while precipitation showed more distinct differences between the various vegetation indices. These findings provide important insights into the ecological sustainability of Xinjiang under warming and humidification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems)
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15 pages, 21917 KiB  
Article
On Canopy Rainfall Interception Modeling in a Eucalyptus Plantation
by José O. Melo Neto, André F. Rodrigues and Carlos R. Mello
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091577 - 9 Sep 2024
Viewed by 617
Abstract
The interaction between the forest canopy and precipitation is a fundamental process for understanding the hydrological cycle in forests. Physical models have been applied to estimate canopy water interception, and their efficiency has been tested based on metrics used to assess hydrological models. [...] Read more.
The interaction between the forest canopy and precipitation is a fundamental process for understanding the hydrological cycle in forests. Physical models have been applied to estimate canopy water interception, and their efficiency has been tested based on metrics used to assess hydrological models. For eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, more studies are needed on the canopy rainfall interception model. Thus, we calibrated the Gash model using two complete hydrological years of observation in a eucalyptus plantation in southeastern Brazil. The model’s parametrization was conducted using 17 trees individually in different planting spacings (3 m × 2 m, 3 m × 3 m, and 3 m × 5 m). The average values of the model’s parameters were taken to represent the forest, and the average parameters for each planting spacing were used to assess the model’s performance according to the planting spacings. We used NSE, KGE, and Pbias statistical metrics to assess the model’s performance. For individual trees and rainfall events, the model showed an average NSE and Pbias of 0.59 and 18.2%, respectively, meaning a “satisfactory” performance for eight trees and “poor” performance for nine trees. When the model was averaged for the entire forest and individual rainfall events were considered, the metrics were improved, being 0.643 for NSE and 8.2% for Pbias, indicating a “good” model performance, which was strengthened by an average KGE of 0.746. Regarding the model for the planting spacings, the best results were found for the 3.0 m × 2.0 m spacing (“a good performance”). For the other spacings, Pbias was higher than 15%, leading to inferior performance, but with the NSE and KGE compatible with “good” performance. The practical implications of our findings are significant, as they can be used to enhance the accuracy of models for a better understanding of the hydrological cycle in eucalyptus forests in Brazil, thereby contributing to more effective forest management and conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 6704 KiB  
Article
A Copula Approach for Predicting Tree Sap Flow Based on Vapor Pressure Deficit
by Ying Ouyang and Changyou Sun
Forests 2024, 15(4), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040695 - 13 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1108
Abstract
While using sap-flow sensor measurements is a well-established technique for quantifying leaf water transpiration in tree species, installing and maintaining a large number of sensors and data loggers in large-scale plantations to obtain accurate measurements is both costly and time-consuming. We developed a [...] Read more.
While using sap-flow sensor measurements is a well-established technique for quantifying leaf water transpiration in tree species, installing and maintaining a large number of sensors and data loggers in large-scale plantations to obtain accurate measurements is both costly and time-consuming. We developed a copula-based approach to predict sap flows based on readily available vapor pressure deficits (VPDs) and found that the Normal copula was the best among five commonly used copulas. The Normal-copula approach was validated using our field-measured eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides (Bartr. ex Marsh.)) sap flow data, yielding solid statistical measures, including Mann–Kendall’s τ = 0.59, R2 = 0.81, and p-value < 0.01. The approach was applied to predict sap flows of eastern cottonwood during the growing period from 1 March to 31 October 2015 as well as the 5-year growing period from 2019 to 2023. It successfully replicated the characteristic diurnal sap flow pattern, with rates increasing during the day and decreasing at night, as well as the typical seasonal pattern, with rates rising from winter to summer and decreasing from summer to next winter. Our study suggests that the copula-based approach is a reliable tool for estimating sap flows based on VPD data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 2610 KiB  
Article
Characteristics and Estimation of the Time of Concentration for Small Forested Catchments in Steep Mountainous Terrain
by Sooyoun Nam, Honggeun Lim, Byoungki Choi, Qiwen Li, Haewon Moon and Hyung Tae Choi
Forests 2024, 15(1), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010186 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1205
Abstract
Accurate modeling of flood flow hydrographs for small forested catchments in steep mountainous terrain is challenging because of large errors in the estimation of response time using existing empirical equations. The time of concentration (TC) for a catchment is a widely [...] Read more.
Accurate modeling of flood flow hydrographs for small forested catchments in steep mountainous terrain is challenging because of large errors in the estimation of response time using existing empirical equations. The time of concentration (TC) for a catchment is a widely used time parameter for estimating peak discharges in hydrological designs. In this study, we developed an estimated TC using readily available mountain catchment variables, a small catchment, steep slope, and narrow valley, using empirical equations. For our approach, we used directly measured data from 39 forested catchments (area: 0.02–9.69 km2) during 3648 observed rainfall events over a 10-year observation period. Based on the uncertainties inherent in the empirical equation, the estimated TC values were compared and analyzed through multiple regression and two different modified empirical modelling equations using our observed catchment parameters. The mean TC was significantly correlated with catchment size and stream length but negatively correlated with stream slope (p < 0.01). As a result, the mean TC estimated using the three modelling equations with catchment variables was qualitatively similar and had relative differences ranging from −12.5 to 15.5 min (−49 to 56%). Therefore, the models (particularly modeling equations with multiple regression, a modified empirical formula, and modified SCS Lag) can efficiently determine the TC and can be used in any small forested catchment in steep mountainous terrain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems)
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14 pages, 4186 KiB  
Article
The Water Dynamics of Norway Spruce Stands Growing in Two Alpine Catchments in Austria
by Franciele de Bastos and Hubert Hasenauer
Forests 2024, 15(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010035 - 22 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1042
Abstract
Forests are highly relevant for the water dynamics of mountain areas. This study assesses the water balance of two mountainous watersheds in Austria (Rindbach and Schmittental) with similar average annual precipitation patterns but different parent material, i.e., limestone in Rindbach versus greywacke in [...] Read more.
Forests are highly relevant for the water dynamics of mountain areas. This study assesses the water balance of two mountainous watersheds in Austria (Rindbach and Schmittental) with similar average annual precipitation patterns but different parent material, i.e., limestone in Rindbach versus greywacke in Schmittental. The biogeochemical mechanistic ecosystem model Biome-BGC with parameter settings developed for the central European tree species was obtained to assess the energy, nutrient, and water cycle as relevant for tree growth (=carbon cycle). The seasonal precipitation pattern, the snow accumulation, the evapotranspiration, the transpiration, the water-use efficiency, and the outflow are investigated. For the period 1960 to 2022, no precipitation trends are detectable, but a temperature increase of 1.9 °C in Rindbach and 1.6 °C in Schmittental is evident, leading to a declining snow accumulation. The model simulations suggest that transpiration and evapotranspiration rates increase with increasing LAI, indicating higher rates in Rindbach compared to Schmittental. The water use efficiency increases up to an LAI = 3 m2 m−2 and declines afterwards. The water balance variables follow the same pattern, i.e., with increasing LAI, the water outflow at the Rindbach catchment declines from 78% to 29% and from 72% to 31% in Schmittental. This confirms that forest cover is important to reduce water outflow and thus enhances the protection function of mountain forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Modelling of Forested Ecosystems)
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