Temperature- and Radiation Based Methods against the Standard FAO Penman- Monteith for Estimating the Reference Evapotranspiration (ET0) in Gorgan

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran

2 Ph.D. Student of Silviculture and Forest Ecology; Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran

3 Ph.D. Student, Department of Forestry and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, I.R. Iran

4 M.Sc. Graduated, Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.R. Iran

5 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, I.R. Iran

6 Assistance Professor, Department of Wood Science, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Alborz Province, I.R. Iran

Abstract

The FAO Penman - Monteith (F-P-M) method is now broadly accepted as the standard for estimating the reference evapotranspiration (ET0). The method is also now used for evaluating the temperature-based [Blaney-Criddle (B-C) and Hargreaves-Samani (H-S)] and radiation-based [Jensen-Haise (J-H) and Turc (Tc)] methods. The objective was to compare the ET0 estimated by the B-C, H-S, J-H, Tc methods with that estimated by the F-P-M method in a semiarid climate using the meteorological data recorded in Hashem-Abad Agro-Meteorological Station, Gorgan. The mean value of ET0 was 3.13 mm.day-1 using the F-P-M method. At daily scale, Tc method showed the lowest RMSE (Root Mean Square Error), 0.98 mm.day-1. At monthly scale, in compare to the other methods, the RMSE values by Tc method were lower in April as well as from September to March, averaged 0.06 mm.day-1 with the percentage error of 3%. During the summer season, July and August, however, B-C method suggested the lowest RMSE value than those of the others (RMSE 0.32 mm.day-1 with the percentage error of 6%). The H-S method behaves the best for monthly estimation (RMSE 0.42 mm.day-1, the percentage error of 7%) during May to June. The F-P-M method for estimating ET0 requires data often not recording in the meteorological stations; hence ET0 should be estimated using the proposed simpler methods in compare to the F-P-M. The adaptation of the methods to different climates should be essentially tested by the standard F-P-M method.

Keywords


 
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