Evaluation of Evapotranspiration over a Semiarid Region Using Multiresolution Data Sources

Evapotranspiration (ET) estimation is important for water management decision tools. In this study, different ET data with varying resolution, accuracy, and functionality were reviewed over a semiarid, data-sparse region in southern Iran. Study results showed that the widely used reanalysis and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets have relatively high uncertainty and underestimated ET over the sparse heterogeneous landscape. On the other hand, fine-resolution ET datasets using Landsat imagery with Mapping Evapotranspiration at High Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC) and Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) algorithms, yielded high accuracy. Evaluation of METRIC and SEBS models in estimating seasonal crop water use showed a mean absolute error of 5% and 13%, respectively. The Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CMSAF) data were used as radiation input to the models and were found to be a representative data source with daily average RMSE of 70 W m(-2). An average crop coefficient K-c was estimated for the region and was obtained as 0.77. The study proposes and applies a hybrid framework that uses reference ET from simple diagnostic models (such as the REF-ET tool) and calculates actual ET by using the satellite-derived regionally and locally representative K-c values. The ET estimates generated with the framework were regionally representative and required low computational resources. The study findings have the potential to provide practical guidance to local farmers and water managers to generate useful and usable decision-making tools, especially for ET assessments in the study region and other data-sparse areas.