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Hortons Model Final Presentation

Horton’s Model of Rainfall, proposed by Robert E. Horton in 1919, describes how vegetation intercepts rainfall, aiding in water balance estimation and flood prediction. The model uses an equation to calculate total interception based on canopy storage, evaporation rate, and storm duration, with applications in forestry, urban planning, and climate modeling. Despite its limitations, such as assuming constant evaporation rates, it remains relevant in hydrology education and serves as a foundation for more complex models.

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19 views13 pages

Hortons Model Final Presentation

Horton’s Model of Rainfall, proposed by Robert E. Horton in 1919, describes how vegetation intercepts rainfall, aiding in water balance estimation and flood prediction. The model uses an equation to calculate total interception based on canopy storage, evaporation rate, and storm duration, with applications in forestry, urban planning, and climate modeling. Despite its limitations, such as assuming constant evaporation rates, it remains relevant in hydrology education and serves as a foundation for more complex models.

Uploaded by

x.01110100.x
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Horton’s Model of Rainfall

Interception (1919)
Understanding Canopy Interception
in Hydrology
Introduction to Horton’s Model
• • Proposed by Robert E. Horton in 1919.
• • Describes how rainfall is intercepted by
vegetation.
• • Helps estimate water balance in forests and
flood prediction.
The Equation
• Horton’s Equation:
• I=S+K·t

• Where:
• I: Total interception (mm or inches)
• S: Canopy storage (mm)
• K: Evaporation rate during rainfall (mm/h)
• t: Storm duration (hours)
Concept - Canopy Storage (S)
• • Initial rainfall held on leaves and branches.
• • Influenced by vegetation type, density, and
leaf area.
• • Affects how much water reaches the ground.
Concept - Evaporation Rate During
Rain (K)
• • Water can evaporate from the canopy
during rain.
• • Affected by temperature, wind, and
humidity.
• • Assumed constant in the model.
Concept - Storm Duration (t)
• • Represents the length of the rainfall event.
• • Longer storms mean more opportunity for
evaporation.
• • A key factor in total interception calculation.
Applications of Horton’s Model
• • Forestry: estimating canopy interception
loss.
• • Urban planning: managing stormwater
runoff.
• • Climate modeling: evapotranspiration and
moisture cycling.
Limitations of the Model
• • Assumes constant evaporation rate.
• • Ignores rainfall intensity and leaf
wetting/drying cycles.
• • Best for simplified analysis or education.
Modern Relevance
• • Still used in introductory hydrology.
• • Basis for complex models (e.g., Gash,
Rutter).
• • Important for eco-hydrology and green
infrastructure design.
Summary
• • Horton’s Model is a foundational tool in
hydrology.
• • Simple, yet effective in estimating canopy
water retention.
• • Influences modern hydrologic and
environmental modeling.
Practice Problems
• 1. (Easy) A storm lasts 2 hours. If S = 3 mm and
K = 0.5 mm/h, find I.
• 2. (Medium) For a 4-hour storm, the total
interception is 10 mm and canopy storage is 4
mm. Find K.
• 3. (Hard) During a 5-hour storm, I = 18 mm. If
K = 2 mm/h, find the canopy storage S.
Solutions to Practice Problems
• 1. I = S + K·t = 3 + 0.5·2 = 3 + 1 = 4 mm
• 2. I = S + K·t → 10 = 4 + K·4 → K = (10 - 4)/4 =
1.5 mm/h
• 3. I = S + K·t → 18 = S + 2·5 → S = 18 - 10 = 8
mm
Visual Illustration of Horton’s
Model
• Below is a conceptual sketch of canopy
interception during rainfall.
Illustration Placeholder (e.g., Rainfall over Forest Canopy)

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