Advances in Modeling Evapotranspiration: An Overview of Theoretical and Experimental Contributions (Centennial)

Advances in modeling evapotranspiration (ET) have come from both theoretical and experimental studies. Early research focused on developing relationships using radiation and near surface atmospheric forcing variables (air temperature, vapor pressure, wind) for estimating local evaporation rates. Others developed approaches using atmospheric boundary layer theory for regional evaporation estimation. With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, information on soil and plant properties and temperature/moisture status could be determined. This information served as boundary conditions for modeling ET generating a plethora of approaches applied from local to regional scales. Development and validation of various techniques involved the collection of experimental data both in the laboratory and from large scale field experiments. This presentation will provide an overview of the major advancements in modeling ET, with a focus on the development of remote sensing-based methods, which has led to the capability of mapping ET from field to regional scales, and more recently, generating ET at global scales.