Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evapotranspiration

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of World Climatology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

  • 2401 Accesses

Moisture is returned directly to the atmosphere through a number of processes. The change in state from solid or liquid form to gaseous water vapor comprises the process of evaporation and sublimation. Evaporation occurs when input of energy onto an evaporating surface causes water molecules to pass from that surface to the atmosphere; this will occur when the vapor pressure of the air is below its saturation value. The rate of evaporation is governed by the state of a number of variables including water vapor, temperature and air motion, and several formulae are available to determine the rate at which it occurs. Perhaps the oldest of these is the Dalton equation, given as

where e s is the vapor pressure of the evaporating surface, e is the vapor pressure at some height above that surface, and f(u) is a function of the horizontal wind speed. Since these parameters vary widely over the Earth’s surface, the rates of evaporation vary enormously.

Transpiration

Just as moisture is returned...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 499.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  1. Allen, R.G., Pereira, L.S., Raes, D., and Smith, M., 1998. Crop Evapotranspiration — Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements. Rome: FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Blaney, H.F., and Criddle, W.D., 1950. Determining Water Requirements in Irrigated Areas from Climatological Data. Soil Conservation Service Technical Publication No. 96. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bowen, I.S., 1926. The ratio of heat losses by conduction and by evaporation from any water surface. Physics Review, 27: 779–787.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Budyko, M.I., 1956. The Heat Balance of the Earth’s Surface (N.A. Stepanova, trans.). Washington, DC: Office of Technical Services, US Department of Commerce.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chang, J.-Hu., 1959. An evaluation of the 1948 Thornthwaite classification. Association of American Geographers Annals, 49: 24–30.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Itier, B. 1996. Measurement and estimation of evapotranspiration. In Pereira L.S., et al., eds., Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Makkink, G.F., 1957. Testing the Penman formula by means of lysimeters. Journal of the Institute of Water Engineers, 11: 277–288.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mather, J.R., 1992. Evaporation and Evapotranspiration. In Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences, vol. 2. New York: pp. 187–196.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Monteith, J.L. 1981. Evaporation and surface temperature. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 107: 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Papadakis, J., 1966. Climates of the World and their Agricultural Potentialities. Buenos Aires: published by author.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Penman, H.L., 1963. Vegetation and Hydrology. Commonwealth Bureau of Soils Tech. Communication No. 53. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sellers, W.D., 1965. Physical Climatology. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thornthwaite, C.W., 1948. An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geographical Review, 38: 55–94.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Thornthwaite, C.W., and Holzman, B., 1942. Measurements of Evaporation from Land and Water Surfaces. Technical Bulletin No. 817. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Thornthwaite Associates, 1963–1964. Average Climatic Water Balance Data of the Continents, vols 16 and 17. Publications in Climatology. Centerton, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ward, R.C., 1967. Principles of Hydrology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

Cross-references

  1. Agroclimatology

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bowen Ratio

    Google Scholar 

  3. Evaporation

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hydroclimatology

    Google Scholar 

  5. Water Budget Analysis

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. John E. Oliver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, USA

    John E. Oliver

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer

About this entry

Cite this entry

Oliver, J.E. (2005). Evapotranspiration. In: Oliver, J.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of World Climatology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3266-8_79

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation