Green roofs to the rescue: tackling severe-intensity rainfall in tropical climate Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Abstract Due to geographical factor, tropical climate country like Malaysia receives high amount of rainfall throughout the year. Many rainfall events have intensity that were categorize as high with severe total rainfall depth. Managing rainfall water as water resources need to integrate in many ways through Best Management Practices (BMPs). It became crucial due to rapid development that changing the land use of the developing area. Changing of land use from permeable to impermeable will increase the surface runoff during rainfall with severe intensity. The runoff may cause flash flood and other issues particularly in downstream area. This study will discuss the significance of green roof as BMPs towards severe intensity rainfall (>60 mm/hr). Intensive green roof was constructed, and combination of three species vegetation were planted. The species used were Kalanchoe pinnata, Arachis pintoi and Zoysia matrella. The numbers of rainfall simulation were carried out in this study. Based on the total rainfall depth, duration and rainfall intensity, percentage (%) of green roof volume retention was analysed. Findings indicated the ability of green roof in retain rainfall water in the range 0.21 m3 to 1.95 m3 but there was no significance correlation between percentage of volume retention with rainfall depth, duration and intensity. With the rainfall depth in the range 52 to 487 mm, percentage of green roof volume retention were in the range 11 % to 99 %. The study concludes that green roof systems effectively mitigate the impacts of high-intensity rainfall events. The findings demonstrate the potential of green roofs to enhance resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.

authors

  • Ayub, Khairul Rahmah
  • Zainol, Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif
  • Ghani, Aminuddin Ab
  • Zakaria, Nor Azazi
  • Abdullah, Junaidah
  • Takaijudin, Husna binti

publication date

  • 2025

start page

  • 012015

volume

  • 1495

issue

  • 1