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A Simple Model for Determining Reference Evapotranspiration Using NOAA Satellite Data: a Case Study

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Abstract

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is required to determine crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling. Many equations have been presented for determining ET0 using meteorological data, but in most of these equations weather stations are located in arid lands far away from agricultural areas, and therefore, the data are not valid for estimating ET0. Satellite images obtain data from vast agricultural areas. In this study, the FAO-56 Penman–Monteith equation was changed to a simple linear equation with three components, and for each component, a linear regression equation was fitted to NOAA satellite data. To establish regression models and their validity, 297 NOAA satellite images over 10 years (1999 to 2008) were used. The study area was Amir Kabir Agro-Industry Irrigation Network in Khuzestan province, Iran. Results showed that the simplified model proposed in this study, estimates ET0 with a determination coefficient of 0.92 and relative root mean square error of 8 %.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Aburaihan College, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Abdollah Alavi & Ali Rahimikhoob

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  1. Seyed Abdollah Alavi
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  2. Ali Rahimikhoob
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Correspondence to Ali Rahimikhoob.

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Alavi, S.A., Rahimikhoob, A. A Simple Model for Determining Reference Evapotranspiration Using NOAA Satellite Data: a Case Study. Environ. Process. 3, 479–493 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-016-0141-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-016-0141-7

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