Changes of pan evaporation and reference evapotranspiration in the Yangtze River basin

Summary For the upper and mid-lower Yangtze River basin trends of pan evaporation and reference evapotranspiration are analysed from 1961 to 2000 using daily data of 115 stations. Both pan evaporation and reference evapotranspiration decreased during the summer months contributing most to the total annual reduction. This trend is more significant in the mid-lower than in the upper Yangtze reaches. The decreasing trends can be associated with trends in net radiation and wind speed. Results are compared with the 20th century evaporation simulated by the general circulation model (GCM, ECHAM5/MPI-OM). Also the GCM’s actual evaporation decreases contrasting an overall increase in air temperature.