Spatial Modeling of Maximum Capacity Values of Rainfall Retention by VegetationCover (A New Approach for Hydrological Applications)

The maximum canopy storage capacity is an important parameter in hydrological models. The aim of the present study, which was conducted in a region of Fars province, was to model the maximum canopy storage capacity for storing rainfall. Therefore, the parameters of leaf area index and branch area index were used as a pattern of the vertical distribution of canopy. Additionally, the ability of 10 vegetation indices produced from narrow- red edge bands compared to 10 vegetation indices produced from broad bands that resulted from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery in estimating branch and leaf area indices was investigated. Subsequently, using sampling in autumn and spring seasons, laboratory results and regression models, maps of maximum canopy storage capacity were drawn for these seasons. The results showed that the CIRE index, which was produced from narrow- red edge bands, was able to estimate both branch area index )R2=0.74) and leaf area index )R2=0.92) values very well and was the best index. Additionally, the modeling results of maximum canopy storage capacity showed that this capacity varied from zero to 1.32 mm per pixel in autumn and from zero to 1.74 mm per pixel in spring.