Evapotranspiration in the Pampean Region using field measurements and satellite data

Evapotranspiration (LE) is an important factor for monitoring crops, water requirements, and water consumption at local and regional scale. In this paper, we applied the semi-empirical model to estimate the daily latent heat flux (LEd = Rnd + A − B(Ts − Ta)). LEd has been estimated using satellite images (Thematic Mapper sensor) and a local dataset (incoming and outgoing short- and long-wave radiation) measured during three years. We first estimated the daily net Radiation (Rnd) from a linear equation derived from the instantaneous net Radiation (Rnd = CRni + D). Subsequently, coefficients A and B have been estimated for two different cover vegetations (pasture and soybean). For each vegetation cover, an error analysis combining Rnd, A, B, and surface and air temperatures has been calculated. Results showed that Rnd had good performance (nonbias and low RMSE). LEd errors for pasture and soybean were ±28 W m−2 and ±40 W m−2 respectively.