The estimation of net radiation and potential evapotranspiration using atmometer measurements

Abstract The differing rates of evaporation associated with a freely transpiring crop and with two differentially shaded atmometers sited above it are considered in terms of a combination-type formula. Relationships between the atmometer evaporation rates and the two terms of the formula describing crop evaporation are examined and established experimentally for a pasture surface. Estimates of net radiation and crop potential evapotranspiration based on these relationships are found to be highly correlated with measured values.