We propose a simple scheme to estimate surface evaporation over large heterogeneous areas using remote sensing observations. Our approach is based on a relationship between easily measured surface parameters (e.g. radiometric surface temperature) and a surrogate for effective surface resistance. Preliminary results, using remotely sensed data sets from AVHRR NOAA‐14 over the Southern Great Plains, show good agreement. The proposed approach appears to be more reliable and easily applicable for operational estimation of evaporation over large areas.