Critical comparison of actual evapotranspiration estimates using ground based, remotely sensed, and simulated data in the USA

Journal Article (2021)
Author(s)

Saad Kibria (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Sara Masia (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

J. Sušnik (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

T.M. Hessels (TU Delft - Water Resources, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Research Group
Water Resources
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106753
More Info
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Publication Year
2021
Language
English
Research Group
Water Resources
Volume number
248
Pages (from-to)
1-13

Abstract

Agriculture is a major consumptive user of water through evapotranspiration (ET). Quantification of actual ET (ETa) is of significant interest to better address water management and improve decision making in the agricultural sector. Many methods to estimate ET are available. However, due to the increasing need of validation of estimates of ET from various techniques, there arises a call for a critical comparison of ETa estimated from a combination of methods. This research presents a critical comparison of ETa estimates obtained using ground based (eddy covariance), remotely sensed (ET ensemble), and simulated data (a crop-soil-water balance model, SIMETAW#). The study focuses on experimental sites in Nebraska, Oklahoma and California (USA). Results show a relatively small and consistent variation between the three methods. The results are relatively close giving a reasonable impression of the expected ETa at a site including variability which is useful to address agricultural practices. The estimates from remote sensing deviate from the other two methods since the method used is relatively new and requires further research to improve measurements and ET estimation. This study offers water managers at the sites new information for reliable, multi-source ET estimation for water resources planning and the study is in principle replicable at different locations.

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