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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #259029
Title: Surface Energy Balance System for Estimating Daily Evapotranspiration Rates in the Texas High Plains

Author
item Gowda, Prasanna
item Howell, Terry
item PAUL, GEORGE - Kansas State University
item Colaizzi, Paul
item MAREK, THOMAS - Texas Agrilife Research

Submitted to: Irrigation Association Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2010
Publication Date: 12/5/2010
Citation: Gowda, P., Howell, T.A., Paul, G., Colaizzi, P.D., Marek, T. 2010. Surface Energy Balance System for Estimating Daily Evapotranspiration Rates in the Texas High Plains. In: Proceedings of the 5th Decennial National Irrigation Symposium, December 5-8, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona. Paper No:IRR10-8615.2010 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Numerous evapotranspiration (ET) models have been developed to use remote sensing data for mapping ET on a regional scale. Adopting any one of these models for an operational ET remote sensing program requires thorough evaluation. In this study, we evaluated the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) for estimating daily ET. A Landsat 5 satellite data acquired over the Texas High Plains was used for this purpose. Comparison of estimated daily ET values with measurements indicated that SEBS may provide good ET estimates. Considering the minimal amount of data required, SEBS found to be a promising tool for operational ET remote sensing program. More efforts are being made to thoroughly evaluate the SEBS model.

Technical Abstract: Numerous energy balance (EB) algorithms have been developed to use remote sensing data for mapping evapotranspiration (ET) on a regional basis. Adopting any single or a combination of these models for an operational ET remote sensing program requires thorough evaluation. The Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) was evaluated for its ability to estimate daily ET rates of summer crops grown in the Texas High Plains using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper data acquired on 10 July 2007. Performance of SEBS was evaluated by comparing estimated daily ET with measured weighing lysimeter ET data from four large lysimeters at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, Texas. The SEBS estimated daily ET values measured with the weighing lysimeter measurements indicated that the SEBS model may provide good ET estimates for both irrigated and dryland fields.