Estimating evapotranspiration from small watersheds using a water and energy balance approach

Meteorological and environmental data measured in semiarid watersheds during the summer monsoon and winter periods were used to study the interrelationships among flux, meteorological and soil water variables, and to evaluate the effects of these variables on the daily estimation of actual evapotranspiration (AET). The relationship between AET and potential evapotranspiration (PET) as a function of soil water content, as suggested by Thornthwaite–Mather and by Morton, was studied to determine its applicability to the study area. Furthermore, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was employed to evaluate the order of importance of the meteorological and soil water factors involved. The results of MLR analysis showed that the combined effects of available energy, soil water content and wind speed were responsible for more than 70% of the observed variations in AET during the summer monsoon period. The analyses also indicate that the combined effects of available energy, vapour pressure deficit and wind speed were responsible for more than 70% of the observed variations in AET during the winter period. However, the test results of two different approaches, using the relationships between AET and PET as a function of soil water content, indicated some inadequacy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of potential evapotranspiration over the Yellow River basin: reference crop evaporation or Shuttleworth–Wallace?

Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is a key input to hydrological models. Its estimation has often been via the Penman–Monteith (P–M) equation, most recently in the form of an estimate of reference evapotranspiration (RET) as recommended by FAO‐56. In this paper the Shuttleworth–Wallace (S–W) model is implemented to estimate PET directly in a form that recognizes vegetation diversity and temporal change without reference to experimental measurements and without calibration. The threshold values of vegetation parameters are drawn from the literature based on the International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme land cover classification. The spatial and temporal variation of the LAI of vegetation is derived from the composite NOAA‐AVHRR normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using a method based on the SiB2 model, and the Climate Research Unit database is used to provide the required meteorological data. All these data inputs are publicly and globally available. Consequently, the implementation of the S–W model developed in this study is applicable at the global scale, an essential requirement if it is to be applied in data‐poor or ungauged large basins. A comparison is made between the FAO‐56 method and the S–W model when applied to the Yellow River basin for the whole of the last century. The resulting estimates of RET and PET and their association with vegetation types and leaf area index (LAI) are examined over the whole basin both annual and monthly and at six specific points. The effect of NDVI on the PET estimate is further evaluated by replacing the monthly NDVI product with the 10‐day product. Multiple regression relationships between monthly PET, RET, LAI, and climatic variables are explored for categories of vegetation types. The estimated RET is a good climatic index that adequately reflects the temporal change and spatial distribution of climate over the basin, but the PET estimated using the S–W model not only reflects the changes in climate, but also the vegetation distribution and the development of vegetation in response to climate. Although good statistical relationships can be established between PET, RET and/or climatic variables, applying these relationships likely will result in large errors because of the strong non‐linearity and scatter between the PET and the LAI of vegetation. It is concluded that use of the implementation of the S–W model described in this study results in a physically sound estimate of PET that accounts for changing land surface conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

数据驱动的蒸散发遥感反演方法及产品研究进展

蒸散发是水圈、大气圈和生物圈中水分循环和能量交换的纽带。在全球尺度上,蒸散发约占陆地降水总量的60%;作为其能量表达形式,潜热通量约占地表净辐射的80%。随着通量观测技术的发展,全球长期持续的观测数据得以获取和共享,近年来基于数据驱动的蒸散发遥感反演方法取得了较好的研究进展。本文针对数据驱动的蒸散发遥感反演方法和产品,从经验回归、机器学习和数据融合3个方面展开,对现有的研究进展进行了梳理、归纳和总结,并从驱动数据、反演方法、已有产品等方面指出目前仍存在的问题和不足。未来仍需开展数据驱动的高时空分辨率的蒸散发遥感反演方法的研究,有效考虑地表温度和土壤水分等可以指示地表蒸散发短期变化的重要信息,同时加强基于过程驱动的物理模型与数据驱动的模型的结合,使两类模型能互为补充、各自发挥所长,共同推动蒸散发遥感反演研究水平的进步。     

Spatiotemporal variations of water use efficiency and its driving factors in Inner Mongolia from 2001 to 2020

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an important variable to explore coupled relationships in carbon and water cycles. In this study, we first compared the spatial variations of annual gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) using four GPP and ET products. Second, we selected the products closest to the flux towers data to estimate WUE. Finally, we quantitatively analyzed the impact of climate change and soil water content on WUE. The results showed that: (1) Four GPP and ET products provided good performance, with GOSIF-GPP and FLDAS-ET exhibiting a higher correlation and the smallest errors with the flux tower data. (2) The spatial pattern of WUE is consistent with that of GPP and ET, gradually decreasing from the northeast to the southwest. Higher WUE values appeared in the northeast forest ecosystem, and lower WUE values occurred in the western Gobi Desert, with a value of 0.28 gC m^?2 mm^?1. The GPP and ET products showed an increasing trend, while WUE showed a decreasing trend (55.15%) from 2001 to 2020. (3) The spatial relationship between WUE and driving factors reveal the variations in WUE of Inner Mongolia are mainly affected by soil moisture between 0 and 10 cm (SM0-10cm), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and precipitation, respectively. (4) In arid regions, VPD and precipitation exhibit a major influence on WUE. An increase in VPD and precipitation has a negative and positive effect on WUE, with threshold values of approximately 0.36 kPa and 426 mm, respectively. (5) In humid regions, SM0-10cm, VPD, SM10-40cm, and SM40-100cm exert a significant impact on WUE, especially SM0-10cm, and weakens with increasing soil depths, these differences may be related to physiological structure and living characteristics of vegetation types in different climate regimes. Our results emphasize the importance of VPD and soil moisture in regional variability in WUE.     

Effect of Groundwater Level Fluctuation on Phragmites australis Evapotranspiration in the Baiyangdian Lake

Abstract:Hydrological regimes influence ecological patterns and processes as well as alter rates of wetland evapotranspiration.This study aimed to investigate the impact of groundwater fluctuation on evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis.Supported by field data obtained from the Baiyangdian Lake in northern China,the variations in groundwater levels were explored,and the changes in soil water and evapotranspiration of reed were analyzed to investigate different groundwater level scenarios using HYDRUS-1D model.The results showed that soil water content,recharged by groundwater,remained stable in the lower soil layer but varied strongly in the upper layer of the soil profile;in comparison to evaporation,Phragmites australis transpiration contributed significantly more to the overall evapotranspiration rate;the high levels of evapotranspiration could be maintained when groundwater levels vary between 1.0 m and 1.8 m,while it was reduced with an increase in groundwater levels as a result of water stress conditions.The results also indicated that the evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis could maintain higher evapotranspiration rates under natural water levels.The evapotranspiration,in other words,might be the main water consumer,but it nevertheless has little effect on water levels during water shortages.The evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis responded to the changes in groundwater levels could help researchers understand water requirements of the wetlands and establish suitable water levels for the wetlands.     

基于SWH模型的青藏高原高寒草甸蒸散发及其组分变化分析

基于Shuttleworth-Wallace Hu（SWH）双源蒸散模型对青藏高原那曲、纳木错、藏东南站蒸散发进行估算,在结果验证良好基础上,对青藏高原蒸散发变化特征及各站主要影响因素进行了分析。结果表明：SWH模型在青藏高原3个草甸站适用性良好;年蒸散发介于388~732 mm之间,年内分布呈先增大后减小特征;3站蒸散发组分差异较大,那曲站和纳木错站土壤蒸发对蒸散总量的贡献分别为53%和56%,藏东南站蒸散发则几乎全部由植被蒸腾贡献,占比高达95%;植被叶面积指数为3站蒸散发最主要的影响因素,饱和水汽压差对藏东南站蒸散发影响也较大。研究结果可对青藏高原蒸散发及其组分时空格局与水循环过程研究提供科学依据。     

1980—2020年中国九大流域蒸散发及其组分时空评估

蒸散发是地表陆气水分交换的纽带,准确量化蒸散发的时空演变格局对于水资源规划与管理至关重要。本文基于GLEAM模型的蒸散发及其组分数据集,借助7个通量观测站数据、120个流域的流域水量平衡及PML_V2蒸散发产品,在中国九大流域系统评估了GLEAM-ET产品,分析了植被恢复背景下,蒸散发（ET）及其组分（植被蒸腾Ec,截留蒸发Ei,土壤蒸发Es）在1980—2020年的时空演变格局。本文主要得到以下结论：① GLEAM-ET产品在中国九大流域具有较好的适用性,其性能与气候类型有关,干旱区效果优于湿润区。此外,GLEAM与PML_V2模型在九大流域相关性较好（R>0.7）,分布格局与变化趋势整体保持一致。② 全国尺度上,ET均值为416.88 mm,增长速率为1.21 mm/a。Ec与ET均呈自东南向西北递减的分布格局,而Es与其相反。Ec、ET在九大流域均呈显著增加趋势（p<0.001）。Ei、Es在季风区流域分别呈显著增加和显著减小趋势;在内陆区流域呈不显著减小（p>0.05）和显著增加趋势。③在植被恢复背景下,ET组分比例发生了变化。Ec占比变化存在南北差异,南方流域Ec占比均减小,北方流域均增加。Ei占比在各流域均增加,Es占比均减小。黄河流域ET组分对植被恢复的响应最为明显,Ec占比增加了5.21%,Es占比减小了5.56%。     

Simulated impacts of irrigation on evapotranspiration in a strongly exploited region: a case study of the Haihe River basin,China

Irrigation is the major water supply for crop production in water‐limited regions. However, this important water component is usually neglected or simplified in hydrological modelling primarily because information concerning irrigation is notably difficult to collect. To assess real effects of irrigation on the simulation of evapotranspiration (ET) in water‐limited region, the Community Land Model version 4 was established over a typical semi‐humid agricultural basin in the northern China – the Haihe River basin. In the irrigated cropland, incorporating an irrigation scheme can enhance the simulated ET and improve the simulation of spatial variability of soil moisture content. We found that different configurations in the irrigation scheme do not cause significant differences in the simulated annual ET. However, simulated ET with simulated irrigation differs clearly from that with observed irrigation in mean annual magnitude, long‐term trend and spatial distribution. Once the irrigation scheme is well‐calibrated against observations, it reasonably reproduces the interannual variability of annual irrigation, when irrigation water management is relatively stable. More importantly, parameter calibration should be consistent with the configuration of the source of irrigation water. However, an irrigation scheme with a constant parameter value cannot capture the trend in the annual irrigation amount caused by abrupt changes in agricultural water management. Compared with different remotely sensed ET products, the enhancement in the simulated ET by irrigation is smaller than the differences among these products, and the trend in simulated ET with the observed irrigation cannot be captured correctly by the remotely sensed ET. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A physically constrained wavelet-aided statistical model for multi-decadal groundwater dynamics predictions

A physically constrained wavelet-aided statistical model (PCWASM) is presented to analyse and predict monthly groundwater dynamics on multi-decadal or longer time scales. The approach retains the simplicity of regression modelling but is constrained by temporal scales of processes responsible for groundwater level variation, including aquifer recharge and pumping. The methodology integrates statistical correlations enhanced with wavelet analysis into established principles of groundwater hydraulics including convolution, superposition and the Cooper–Jacob solution. The systematic approach includes (1) identification of hydrologic trends and correlations using cross-correlation and multi-time scale wavelet analyses; (2) integrating temperature-based evapotranspiration and groundwater pumping stresses and (3) assessing model prediction performances using fixed-block k-fold cross-validation and split calibration-validation methods. The approach is applied at three hydrogeologicaly distinct sites in North Florida in the United States using over 40 years of monthly groundwater levels. The systematic approach identifies two patterns of cross-correlations between groundwater levels and historical rainfall, indicating low-frequency variabilities are critical for long-term predictions. The models performed well for predicting monthly groundwater levels from 7 to 22 years with less than 2.1 ft (0.7 m) errors. Further evaluation by the moving-block bootstrap regression indicates the PCWASM can be a reliable tool for long-term groundwater level predictions. This study provides a parsimonious approach to predict multi-decadal groundwater dynamics with the ability to discern impacts of pumping and climate change on aquifer levels. The PCWASM is computationally efficient and can be implemented using publicly available datasets. Thus, it should provide a versatile tool for managers and researchers for predicting multi-decadal monthly groundwater levels under changing climatic and pumping impacts over a long time period.     

Seasonal rainfall–runoff relationships in a lowland forested watershed in the southeastern USA

Hydrological processes of lowland watersheds of the southern USA are not well understood compared to a hilly landscape due to their unique topography, soil compositions, and climate. This study describes the seasonal relationships between rainfall patterns and runoff (sum of storm flow and base flow) using 13 years (1964–1976) of rainfall and stream flow data for a low‐gradient, third‐order forested watershed. It was hypothesized that runoff–rainfall ratios (R/P) are smaller during the dry periods (summer and fall) and greater during the wet periods (winter and spring). We found a large seasonal variability in event R/P potentially due to differences in forest evapotranspiration that affected seasonal soil moisture conditions. Linear regression analysis results revealed a significant relationship between rainfall and runoff for wet (r² = 0·68; p < 0·01) and dry (r² = 0·19; p = 0·02) periods. Rainfall‐runoff relationships based on a 5‐day antecedent precipitation index (API) showed significant (r² = 0·39; p < 0·01) correspondence for wet but not (r² = 0·02; p = 0·56) for dry conditions. The same was true for rainfall‐runoff relationships based on 30‐day API (r² = 0·39; p < 0·01 for wet and r² = 0·00; p = 0·79 for dry). Stepwise regression analyses suggested that runoff was controlled mainly by rainfall amount and initial soil moisture conditions as represented by the initial flow rate of a storm event. Mean event R/P were higher for the wet period (R/P = 0·33), and the wet antecedent soil moisture condition based on 5‐day (R/P = 0·25) and 30‐day (R/P = 0·26) prior API than those for the dry period conditions. This study suggests that soil water status, i.e. antecedent soil moisture and groundwater table level, is important besides the rainfall to seasonal runoff generation in the coastal plain region with shallow soil argillic horizons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.