Response of Soil Moisture to Long-Duration Rainstorms in Three Forest Stands in Mountainous Areas of North China

Rainfall is one of the core components water cycle in terrestrial ecosystems and closely related to hydrothermal balance, plant animal growth, stability whole ecosystem. Long-duration rainstorms can alter soil structure forest affect spatial distribution moisture, thus affecting supply from trees being factors that increase vulnerability ecosystems. In recent years, changes rainfall patterns have normalized prolonged heavy mountainous areas North China. However, there are few reports on response at different depths historically long forested areas. By quantifying relationship between precipitation characteristics water, transport Platycladus orientalis (PO), Quercus variabilis (QV) Pinus tabuliformis (PT) during long-duration 21–22 July 2012 were evaluated separately, roles plants rainstorm determined. The results showed (1) stands had a lag. Among them, PO PT less affected by could maintain relatively stable state. (2) moisture trend was significantly greater than other vegetation zones covered process rainfall. Under three typical covers, continuous zero-flux plane each observed depth (the direction flow more over period), but no regular trend. (3) root system an important factor, influencing differences types. QV higher average effective recharge rate lateral cypress oleander better utilize storm water.