Comparing SEBAL ET with Lysimeter Data in the Semi-Arid Texas High Plains
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008: Ahupua'A
Abstract
SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land), a spatial evapotranspiration (ET) estimation method, has been applied with Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data throughout the world. However, it has never been tested for semiarid conditions of the Texas High Plains. In this study, SEBAL algorithm was applied to a Landsat TM image acquired on July 10, 2007 covering a major portion of the Texas High Plains. Performance of SEBAL was evaluated by comparing estimated ET with measured ET data on four large monolithic lysimeters at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, TX. Comparison of SEBAL-estimated instantaneous ET values with lysimetric measurements indicated that SEBAL may provide better ET estimates for irrigated fields. However, it performed poorly in predicting ET for fields under dryland management. This result may indicate that SEBAL might be sensitive to errors in the selection of the hot/dry pixel. Overall, SEBAL is a promising tool for mapping ET in the extensively irrigated Texas High Plains. However, more evaluation is needed for different agroclimatological conditions in the region.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Algorithms
- Analysis (by type)
- Arid lands
- Engineering fundamentals
- Equipment and machinery
- Evaporation
- Evapotranspiration
- Geomatics
- Hydrologic data
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrology
- Irrigation
- Irrigation engineering
- Mapping
- Mathematics
- Measuring instruments
- Spatial analysis
- Spatial data
- Surveying methods
- Water and water resources
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.