Green roof evapotranspiration rates and stormwater control under subtropical climate: a case study in Brazil

ABSTRACT In this study a long-term field experiment evaluating evapotranspiration rates from irrigated and non-irrigated green roof modules, as well their impacts on stormwater control was accomplished. Six green roof modules (3 irrigated and 3 non-irrigated) vegetated with S. rupestre were monitored throughout 8 months in southern Brazil. Four non-vegetated modules (2 irrigated and 2 non-irrigated) were simultaneously assessed to understand the role of the vegetation in the whole process. The average evapotranspiration under water-stress (ETr) was 2.6 mm.day-1, while mean evapotranspiration under water-abundance (ETp) was 2.8 mm.day-1. Higher evapotranspiration rates were observed during summer, increasing the substrate storage capacity, although ETr amount along the seasons was very similar, mainly affected by climatic conditions. The long-term analysis showed that 47% of the total rainfall was converted into runoff, 21% was retained in the green roof modules and 32% was released through evapotranspiration, reinforcing the importance of vegetation as a mechanism for improving stormwater control benefits. The results of this research also allowed the establishment of a crop coefficient (Kc) time series, with a monthly average of 0.9 which permits the S. rupestre evapotranspiration to be preliminarily estimated by using equations developed for reference culture without the need of monitoring.