Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment

Solar radiation (Rs) is an essential input for estimating reference crop evapotranspiration, ETo. An accurate estimate of ETo is the first step involved in determining water demand of field crops. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of fifteen empirical solar radiations (Rs) model...

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Main Authors: Ndulue Emeka, Onyekwelu Ikenna, Ogbu Kingsley Nnaemeka, Ogwo Vintus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2019-09-01
Series:Journal of Water and Land Development
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2019.42.issue-1/jwld-2019-0053/jwld-2019-0053.xml?format=INT
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author Ndulue Emeka
Onyekwelu Ikenna
Ogbu Kingsley Nnaemeka
Ogwo Vintus
author_facet Ndulue Emeka
Onyekwelu Ikenna
Ogbu Kingsley Nnaemeka
Ogwo Vintus
author_sort Ndulue Emeka
collection DOAJ
description Solar radiation (Rs) is an essential input for estimating reference crop evapotranspiration, ETo. An accurate estimate of ETo is the first step involved in determining water demand of field crops. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of fifteen empirical solar radiations (Rs) models and determine its effects on ETo estimates for three sites in humid tropical environment (Abakaliki, Nsukka, and Awka). Meteorological data from the archives of NASA (from 1983 to 2005) was used to derive empirical constants (calibration) for the different models at each location while data from 2006 to 2015 was used for validation. The results showed an overall improvement when comparing measured Rs with Rs determined using original constants and Rs using the new constants. After calibration, the Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.97) and Chen 2 models (RMSE = 0.665 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Chen 1 (R2 = 0.66) and Bristow–Campbell models (RMSE = 1.58 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs in Abakaliki. At the Nsukka station, Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.96) and Adeala models (RMSE = 0.785 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Hargreaves–Samani (R2 = 0.64) and Chen 1 models (RMSE = 1.96 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs. Chen 2 (R2 = 0.98) and Swartman–Ogunlade models (RMSE = 0.43 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Hargreaves–Samani (R2 = 0.68) and Chen 1 models (RMSE = 1.64 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs in Awka. For estimating ETo, Adeala (R2 =0.98) and Swartman–Ogunlade models (RMSE = 0.064 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best at the Awka station and Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.98) and Chen 2 models (RMSE = 0.43 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best at Abakaliki while Angstrom–Prescott–Page (R2 = 0.96) and El-Sebaii models (RMSE = 0.0908 mm∙day−1) performed best at the Nsukka station.
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spelling doaj.art-1a33e32257574378a49f6d6b9023fc722023-09-02T13:54:54ZengPolish Academy of SciencesJournal of Water and Land Development2083-45352019-09-0142112413510.2478/jwld-2019-0053jwld-2019-0053Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environmentNdulue Emeka0Onyekwelu Ikenna1Ogbu Kingsley Nnaemeka2Ogwo Vintus3University of Nigeria, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Nsukka Road, 410001Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaUniversity of Portsmouth, School of Earth and Environmental Science, United KingdomNnamdi Azikiwe University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Awka, NigeriaUniversity of Nigeria, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Nsukka, NigeriaSolar radiation (Rs) is an essential input for estimating reference crop evapotranspiration, ETo. An accurate estimate of ETo is the first step involved in determining water demand of field crops. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of fifteen empirical solar radiations (Rs) models and determine its effects on ETo estimates for three sites in humid tropical environment (Abakaliki, Nsukka, and Awka). Meteorological data from the archives of NASA (from 1983 to 2005) was used to derive empirical constants (calibration) for the different models at each location while data from 2006 to 2015 was used for validation. The results showed an overall improvement when comparing measured Rs with Rs determined using original constants and Rs using the new constants. After calibration, the Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.97) and Chen 2 models (RMSE = 0.665 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Chen 1 (R2 = 0.66) and Bristow–Campbell models (RMSE = 1.58 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs in Abakaliki. At the Nsukka station, Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.96) and Adeala models (RMSE = 0.785 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Hargreaves–Samani (R2 = 0.64) and Chen 1 models (RMSE = 1.96 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs. Chen 2 (R2 = 0.98) and Swartman–Ogunlade models (RMSE = 0.43 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best while Hargreaves–Samani (R2 = 0.68) and Chen 1 models (RMSE = 1.64 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed least in estimating Rs in Awka. For estimating ETo, Adeala (R2 =0.98) and Swartman–Ogunlade models (RMSE = 0.064 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best at the Awka station and Swartman–Ogunlade (R2 = 0.98) and Chen 2 models (RMSE = 0.43 MJ∙m−2∙day−1) performed best at Abakaliki while Angstrom–Prescott–Page (R2 = 0.96) and El-Sebaii models (RMSE = 0.0908 mm∙day−1) performed best at the Nsukka station.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2019.42.issue-1/jwld-2019-0053/jwld-2019-0053.xml?format=INTcalibrationmodelsreference evapotranspirationsolar radiationvalidation
spellingShingle Ndulue Emeka
Onyekwelu Ikenna
Ogbu Kingsley Nnaemeka
Ogwo Vintus
Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
Journal of Water and Land Development
calibration
models
reference evapotranspiration
solar radiation
validation
title Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
title_full Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
title_fullStr Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
title_full_unstemmed Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
title_short Performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a humid tropical environment
title_sort performance evaluation of solar radiation equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration eto in a humid tropical environment
topic calibration
models
reference evapotranspiration
solar radiation
validation
url http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2019.42.issue-1/jwld-2019-0053/jwld-2019-0053.xml?format=INT
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AT onyekweluikenna performanceevaluationofsolarradiationequationsforestimatingreferenceevapotranspirationetoinahumidtropicalenvironment
AT ogbukingsleynnaemeka performanceevaluationofsolarradiationequationsforestimatingreferenceevapotranspirationetoinahumidtropicalenvironment
AT ogwovintus performanceevaluationofsolarradiationequationsforestimatingreferenceevapotranspirationetoinahumidtropicalenvironment