Interception, the storage and evaporation of rainfall by plants and litter, is crucial for understanding how ecosystems use rain. A new method was developed to measure total interception in forests by studying soil moisture changes during rain. By analyzing data from 36 forest sites in Florida, researchers found that forest structure and other factors influence interception levels. The study showed that whole-forest interception can be estimated using soil moisture data, revealing variations in interception within the same forest type. This method could save time and money compared to traditional measurements, improving our understanding of this important aspect of the water cycle.