Energy balance evapotranspiration estimates over time for the Southern San Joaquin Valley
Date
2009-11
Authors
Thoreson, Bryan, author
Lal, Deepak, author
Clark, Byron, author
Davids, Grant, author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Water resource planning requires knowledge of changes in consumptive water use by crops and natural vegetation over time. Remote sensing offers the promise of a consistent methodology to obtain consumptive use and other water resource data over large areas at regular intervals. SEBALĀ® (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) uses data gathered by satellite-based sensors to compute evapotranspiration (ET) and biomass production. ET is computed as the residual of the energy balance at the Earth's surface. Growing season ET (April through October) was computed for 2002 and 2005 using SEBAL for the area covered by Landsat Path/Row 42/35 of the Southern San Joaquin Valley in California. Growing season ET for this area, selected smaller areas within it and selected crops, where reliable cropping records were available, was compared to annual and seasonal precipitation.
Description
Presented at the fifth international conference on irrigation and drainage, Irrigation and drainage for food, energy and the environment on November 3-6, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah.