PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2012, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (9): 1186-1195.doi: 10.11820/dlkxjz.2012.09.010

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advancements of the Metrics of Evapotranspiration

SONG Lulu1,2, YIN Yunhe1, WU Shaohong1   

  1. 1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China;
    2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2012-02-01 Revised:2012-06-01 Online:2012-09-25 Published:2012-09-25

Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is very important for water cycle, and is determinant for the estimation of water and heat transfer in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC). Quantitative estimation of ET is the base of appraising terrestrial NPP, water conservation valuation, regional water consumption, soil water transport and crop production. It is important for studies on global climate change. More and more ET models and associated measurements are being reported in the literature and used to develop, calibrate and test important ET process models. The ET data can be derived from a range of measurement systems including lysimeters, eddy covariance, Bowen ratio and sap flow. In addition, the satellite-based remote sensing and direct models (e.g. radiation- based models and combination models) can also been important methods to evaluate the ET. This paper distinguished the methods of ET evaluation into ET measuring and ET modeling, with outline of different types of ET models and ET measurements involving principles, merits and disadvantages. Key issues and development direction in ET were evaluated to provide a guide to evaluate accurately ET for other researches.

Key words: ET measurements, ET modeling, evapotranspiration metrics