A parsimonious regional parametric evapotranspiration model based on a simplification of the Penman–Monteith formula

Abstract

Evapotranspiration is a key hydrometeorological process and its estimation is important in many fields of hydrological and agricultural sciences. Simplified estimation proves very useful in absence of a complete data set. In this respect, a parametric model based on simplification of the Penman–Monteith formulation is presented. The basic idea of the parametric model is the replacement of some of the variables and constants that are used in the standard Penman–Monteith model by regionally varying parameters, which are estimated through calibration. The model is implemented in various climates on monthly time step (USA, Germany, Spain) and compared on the same basis with four radiation-based methods (Jensen–Haise, McGuiness and Bordne, Hargreaves and Oudin) and two temperature-based (Thornthwaite and Blaney–Criddle). The methodology yields very good results with high efficiency indexes, outperforming the other models. Finally, a spatial analysis including the correlation of parameters with latitude and elevation together with their regionalization through three common spatial interpolation techniques along with a recent approach (Bilinear Surface Smoothing), is performed. Also, the model is validated against Penman–Monteith estimates in eleven stations of the well-known CIMIS network. The total framework which includes the development, the implementation, the comparison and the mapping of parameters illustrates a new parsimonious and high efficiency methodology in the assessment of potential evapotranspiration field.