Ecohydrological process of canopy rainfall interception, fog capture and nitrogen uptake of Pinus pumila vegetation

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The importance of fog precipitation in the alpine hydrological and matter cycle processes of Pinus pumila Regal canopy and rain interception was evaluated at Jodo-daira (36.6N, 137.6E, 2839 m a.s.l.) on a summit of Mt. Tateyama, central Japan in summer (August and September) for three years. The mean monthly rain and fog precipitation were 272.1 mm/month and 191.2 mm/month, respectively. The mean rainfall interception by P. pumila canopy was about 20%, but the canopy captured fog precipitation even in the absence of rainfall. At the top of the mountain, relative humidity was almost reaching 100% in the late afternoon every day, and drenched period of the canopy was long. Using delta18O and deltaD analysis, the mean contribution of fog water to the throughfall was estimated at approximately 35%, consistent with the result from direct measurement. These results indicate that P. pumila should have a significant influence on the local hydrological processes of the high mountain ecosystem.