Thesis
Evapotranspiration potential of green infrastructure vegetation
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
May 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4485
Abstract
To better understand the evapotranspiration potential of urban vegetation, daily evapotranspiration (ET) of four species commonly found in green infrastructure in New York City and Philadelphia (A. incaranta, L. muscari, C. lurida, and E. purpurea) was measured using microlysimeters. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and provided with ample water supply to ensure any differences in ET were due to plant characteristics alone. Values ranged from 1.35 mm/day (A. incaranta) to 1.98 mm/day (E. purpurea) and were statistically different (p=.018). Cumulative ET over the measurement period was also statistically different between the four species (p=.046). Crop coefficients were then developed and used to predict each species' ability to evapotranspire rainfall under well-watered conditions. After exposure to a 9.9 mm storm, 72-hour ET amounted to 3.17 mm for A. incaranta, 3.40 mm for L. muscari, 4.07 mm for C. lurida, and 4.30 mm for E. purpurea. The range of ET/P is 32-43% for these four species, with E. purpurea being capable of evapotranspiring the most rainfall. However, when ET is adjusted to actual planting densities in an example 10'X5' bioswale, E. purpurea inhabits only 16.5% of the green infrastructure (GI) and can only remove 6% of the total rainfall volume. Ultimately, C. lurida's lower planting density and greater total area allow the plant to manage more total water, 12.5%, than any other species. This research serves as a starting point to better quantify ET of urban GI species and improve the accuracy of ET modeling.
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Details
- Title
- Evapotranspiration potential of green infrastructure vegetation
- Creators
- Stephanie Marie Miller - DU
- Contributors
- Franco Montalto (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil/Architectural/Environmental Engineering (1970-2026); College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4485; 991014632509604721