Estimation of Reference Potential Evapotranspiration with Focus on Vegetation Science—the EmPEst Software
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 9
Abstract
Owing to the difficulties in measuring daily reference potential evapotranspiration, its estimation by means of the ASCE Penman-Monteith approach and various other empirical equations that are less demanding in terms of input data is favoured for various applications in vegetation science and climatology. This study presents the development of a Visual Basic software that can be used for the estimation of the daily by means of the standardized ASCE Penman-Monteith equation for both short (clipped grass) and tall (full-cover alfalfa) crops and thirteen additional empirical equations. Statistical measures of goodness of fit are also calculated to make it easier for users to compare and detect the empirical equations that have the minimum bias of estimation against the ASCE Penman-Monteith equation.
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© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 15, 2010
Accepted: Jan 3, 2011
Published online: Jan 5, 2011
Published in print: Sep 1, 2011
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