Post-processed data and graphical tools for a CONUS-wide eddy flux evapotranspiration dataset

Authors: VOLK, JOHN - Desert Research Institute; HUNTINGTON, JUSTIN - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA); MELTON, FORREST - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA); MINOR, BLAKE - Desert Research Institute; WANG, TIANXIN - University Of California Berkeley; Anapalli, Saseendran; Anderson, Raymond - Ray; Evett, Steven - Steve; French, Andrew; JASONI, RICHARD - Desert Research Institute; BAMBACH, N - University Of California; Kustas, William - Bill; Alfieri, Joseph; Prueger, John; HIPPS, L - Utah State University; McKee, Lynn; CASTRO, SEBASTIAN - University Of California, Davis; ALSINA, M - E & J Gallo Winery; McElrone, Andrew; Reba, Michele; RUNKLE, B - University Of Arkansas; SABER, M - University Of Arizona; SANCHEZ, C - University Of Arizona; TAJFAR, E - University Of Arkansas; ALLEN, R - University Of Idaho; Anderson, Martha

Submitted to: Data in Brief
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2023
Publication Date: 5/30/2023
Citation: Volk, J.M., Huntington, J.L., Melton, F., Minor, B., Wang, T., Anapalli, S.S., Anderson, R.G., Evett, S.R., French, A.N., Jasoni, R., Bambach, N., Kustas, W.P., Alfieri, J.G., Prueger, J.H., Hipps, L., McKee, L.G., Castro, S.J., Alsina, M.M., McElrone, A.J., Reba, M.L., Runkle, B., Saber, M., Sanchez, C., Tajfar, E., Allen, R., Anderson, M.C. 2023. Post-processed data and graphical tools for a CONUS-wide eddy flux evapotranspiration dataset. Data in Brief. 48. Article 109274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109274.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109274

Interpretive Summary: Aquifers worldwide are fast drying up as water withdrawals from these limited freshwater resources for crop irrigations far exceed their natural recharge rates. This alarming trend had already been reported to have caused substantial declines in irrigation-well production, endangering the future of irrigated agriculture. Based on accurate knowledge of crop water demand (ET) and supplies, more judicial use of water is critical for saving aquifers for sustainable irrigated agriculture. This study lays the foundation for preparing datasets based on actual crop water use measured using eddy covariance technology at various locations under various land-use systems, which are critical for developing location-specific water management research and applications in the USA. In the endeavor, scientists in the Sustainable Water Management Research Unit, USDA ARS, Stoneville, MS, partnered with various national laboratories and Land-grant Universities in developing a database of water requirements of various crops at the US national level, for informing farmers in the country on crop irrigation demand and supplies for sustainable climate-smart agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Large sample datasets of in situ evapotranspiration (ET) mea- surements with well documented data provenance and qual- ity assurance are critical for water management and many fields of earth science research. We present a post-processed ET oriented dataset at daily and monthly timesteps, from 161 stations, including 148 eddy covariance flux towers, that were chosen based on their data quality from nearly 350 stations across the contiguous United States. In addition to ET, the data includes energy and heat fluxes, meteorologi- cal measurements, and reference ET downloaded from grid- MET for each flux station. Data processing techniques were conducted in a reproducible manner using open-source soft- ware. Most data initially came from the public AmeriFlux network, however, several different networks (e.g., the USDA- Agricultural Research Service) and university partners pro- vided data that was not yet public. Initial half-hourly en- ergy balance data were gap-filled and aggregated to daily fre- quency, and turbulent fluxes were corrected for energy bal- ance closure error using the FLUXNET2015/ONEFlux energy balance ratio approach. Metadata, diagnostics of energy bal- ance, and interactive graphs of time series data are included for each station. Although the dataset was developed primar- ily to benchmark satellite-based remote sensing ET models of the OpenET initiative, there are many other potential uses, such as validation for a range of regional hydrologic and at- mospheric models.