Review on the influence of forest canopy on the process of snowfall interception

The processes of snowfall interception by forest canopy, the evaporation or sublimation, release, and melting drip of the intercepted snow significantly affect the hydrological cycle in the forest area of the north globe. Therefore, research is needed to understand the effects of forest canopy on the processes of snowfall interception. Such research would also be important for the understanding of climate change and the management of forests, forest fires, and vegetation succession in areas that experience seasonal snow cover. The mechanisms of snowfall interception and subsequent processes of snow transportation, and methods for measuring these processes, have been widely reviewed previously. However, there is lack of knowledge of the effects of forest stand scale and level process. Here, we propose to use remote sensing and other advanced research methods in studies on snowfall interception to complement the existing research. Key to this future research direction is the consideration of multi-scale, multi-process, and multi-factor interactions.