Untitled DocumentSEBAL evapotranspiration estimates for semiarid regions
Macro Theme Area:
Basin Scale Water Balance [Project ID: B03]
PI:
Jan Hendrickx
CO-PI(s):
Richard Allen, Remke Van Dam, Kathy Fleming
Basin focus:
Regional SW, Rio Grande, San Pedro
Specific area in
basin /
field sites:
Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico
Owens Valley, California
Summary/Goals: Regional distribution of ET is needed for weather prediction, water resources management, irrigation scheduling, prediction of fire hazards, and prediction of soil moisture.
Activities and outcomes during past year:
The Surface Energy Balance for Land (SEBAL) has been validated for riparian areas in the southwestern U.S.A. by comparing SEBAL ET values with those from ground measurements with eddy covariance systems. Generally, there was good agreement between SEBAL ET values and ground measurements with the exception of Salt Cedar ET early in the growing season. It is not clear what is causing the mismatch.
Plans for the upcoming year:
Continue the validation study for other days and locations. Investigate why SEBAL ET values were higher than ET values determined from eddy covariance systems early in the growing season for Salt Cedar. We will use a newly acquired scintillometer for this investigation.
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Organization Involvement:
USDA/CSREES is financing the major part of this project for the period 8/2003-8/2005. In addition, the PI has purchased a scintillometer with financial support from USDA/CSREES.
