Estimation of Daily Evapotranspiration from one Time-of-Day Measurements

Jackson, R.D., Hatfield, J.L., Reginato, R.J., Idso, S.B. and Pinter, P.J., Jr., 1983. Estimation of daily evapotranspiration from one time-of-day measurements. Agric. Water Manage., 7: 351–362. The estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) on a regional basis requires remote sensing inputs. When obtained from air or space platforms, remotely sensed measurements are usually made at periodic intervals, and are essentially instantaneous in nature. A problem, then, is the estimation of daily values of ET from one time of day measurements. A technique is presented that allows the calculation of the coefficient necessary to convert one time of day measurements to daily totals. Input requirements are latitude, day of year, and time of day. This coefficient was applied to measured one time of day ET values and the results were compared to lysimetrically determined daily totals obtaind at five locations and for four crops. One time of day ET was also calculated using an ET model that requires remotely sensed surface temperatures. These values were converted to daily totals and compared with measured values. The results indicated that reliable estimates of daily total ET from one time of day measurements could be made for cloud free days. For cloudy days the results are less reliable, but they suggest that estimates may be improved by considering the amount and temporal distribution of cloud cover.