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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 #281723
Title: Spatial variability in sensitivity of reference crop ET to accuracy of climate data in the Texas High Plains

Author
item PORTER, DANA - Texas Agrilife Extension
item Gowda, Prasanna
item MAREK, THOMAS - Texas Agrilife Research
item Howell, Terry
item Moorhead, Jerry
item HOLMAN, DANIEL - Texas Agrilife Extension

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2012
Publication Date: 10/23/2012
Citation: Porter, D.O., Gowda, P., Marek, T.H., Howell, T.A., Moorhead, J.E., Holman, D. 2012. Spatial variability in sensitivity of reference crop ET to accuracy of climate data in the Texas High Plains [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. 2012 CDROM. Paper No. 209-1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A detailed sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the relative effects of measurement errors in climate data input parameters on the accuracy of calculated reference crop evapotranspiration (ET) using the ASCE-EWRI Standardized Reference ET Equation. Data for the period of 1995 to 2008, from 18 automated weather stations in the Texas High Plains was used for the analysis. Results indicated that grass and alfalfa reference crop ET were most sensitive to measurement errors in wind speed and air temperature followed by incoming shortwave (solar) radiation, and that data sensitivity was greater during the mid-summer growing season in this semi-arid region. Sensitivity of reference crop ET to errors in the climate data input significantly varied in both latitude and longitudinal directions.