Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data
We propose practical guidelines to predict biome-specific potential evapotranspiration (<i>ET<sub>p</sub></i>) from the knowledge of grass-reference evapotranspiration (<i>ET</i><sub>0</sub>) and a crop coefficient (<i>K<sub>c</sub>&l...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| author | Khulan Batsukh Vitaly A. Zlotnik Andrew Suyker Paolo Nasta |
| author_facet | Khulan Batsukh Vitaly A. Zlotnik Andrew Suyker Paolo Nasta |
| author_sort | Khulan Batsukh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We propose practical guidelines to predict biome-specific potential evapotranspiration (<i>ET<sub>p</sub></i>) from the knowledge of grass-reference evapotranspiration (<i>ET</i><sub>0</sub>) and a crop coefficient (<i>K<sub>c</sub></i>) in Mongolia. A paucity of land-based weather data hampers use of the Penman–Monteith equation (FAO-56 PM) based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines to predict daily <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub>. We found that the application of the Hargreaves equation provides <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> estimates very similar to those from the FAO-56 PM approach. The <i>K<sub>c</sub></i> value is tabulated only for crops in the FAO-56 guidelines but is unavailable for steppe grasslands. Therefore, we proposed a new crop coefficient, <i>K<sub>c adj</sub></i> defined by (a) net solar radiation in the Gobi Desert (<i>K<sub>c adjD</sub></i>) or (b) leaf area index in the steppe region (<i>K<sub>c adjS</sub></i>) in Mongolia. The mean annual <i>ET<sub>p</sub></i> obtained using our approach was compared to that obtained by FAO-56 guidelines for forages (not steppe) based on tabulated <i>K<sub>c</sub></i> values in 41 locations in Mongolia. We found the differences are acceptable (<i>RMSE</i> of 0.40 mm d<sup>−1</sup>) in northern Mongolia under high vegetation cover but rather high (<i>RMSE</i> of 1.69 and 2.65 mm d<sup>−1</sup>) in central and southern Mongolia. The FAO aridity index (<i>AI</i>) is empirically related to the <i>ET<sub>p</sub></i>/<i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> ratio. Approximately 80% and 54% reduction of <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> was reported in the Gobi Desert and in the steppe locations, respectively. Our proposed <i>K<sub>c adj</sub></i> can be further improved by considering local weather data and plant phenological characteristics. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:08:09Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e6a4596a7ce442438aa9f3bb199cf20c2023-11-22T15:39:55ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-09-011318247010.3390/w13182470Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather DataKhulan Batsukh0Vitaly A. Zlotnik1Andrew Suyker2Paolo Nasta3Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USADepartment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USASchool of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USADepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Naples, ItalyWe propose practical guidelines to predict biome-specific potential evapotranspiration (<i>ET<sub>p</sub></i>) from the knowledge of grass-reference evapotranspiration (<i>ET</i><sub>0</sub>) and a crop coefficient (<i>K<sub>c</sub></i>) in Mongolia. A paucity of land-based weather data hampers use of the Penman–Monteith equation (FAO-56 PM) based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines to predict daily <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub>. We found that the application of the Hargreaves equation provides <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> estimates very similar to those from the FAO-56 PM approach. The <i>K<sub>c</sub></i> value is tabulated only for crops in the FAO-56 guidelines but is unavailable for steppe grasslands. Therefore, we proposed a new crop coefficient, <i>K<sub>c adj</sub></i> defined by (a) net solar radiation in the Gobi Desert (<i>K<sub>c adjD</sub></i>) or (b) leaf area index in the steppe region (<i>K<sub>c adjS</sub></i>) in Mongolia. The mean annual <i>ET<sub>p</sub></i> obtained using our approach was compared to that obtained by FAO-56 guidelines for forages (not steppe) based on tabulated <i>K<sub>c</sub></i> values in 41 locations in Mongolia. We found the differences are acceptable (<i>RMSE</i> of 0.40 mm d<sup>−1</sup>) in northern Mongolia under high vegetation cover but rather high (<i>RMSE</i> of 1.69 and 2.65 mm d<sup>−1</sup>) in central and southern Mongolia. The FAO aridity index (<i>AI</i>) is empirically related to the <i>ET<sub>p</sub></i>/<i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> ratio. Approximately 80% and 54% reduction of <i>ET</i><sub>0</sub> was reported in the Gobi Desert and in the steppe locations, respectively. Our proposed <i>K<sub>c adj</sub></i> can be further improved by considering local weather data and plant phenological characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/18/2470Gobi Desertsteppe grasslandscrop coefficientsolar radiationarid climateleaf area index |
| spellingShingle | Khulan Batsukh Vitaly A. Zlotnik Andrew Suyker Paolo Nasta Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data Water Gobi Desert steppe grasslands crop coefficient solar radiation arid climate leaf area index |
| title | Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data |
| title_full | Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data |
| title_fullStr | Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data |
| title_short | Prediction of Biome-Specific Potential Evapotranspiration in Mongolia under a Scarcity of Weather Data |
| title_sort | prediction of biome specific potential evapotranspiration in mongolia under a scarcity of weather data |
| topic | Gobi Desert steppe grasslands crop coefficient solar radiation arid climate leaf area index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/18/2470 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT khulanbatsukh predictionofbiomespecificpotentialevapotranspirationinmongoliaunderascarcityofweatherdata AT vitalyazlotnik predictionofbiomespecificpotentialevapotranspirationinmongoliaunderascarcityofweatherdata AT andrewsuyker predictionofbiomespecificpotentialevapotranspirationinmongoliaunderascarcityofweatherdata AT paolonasta predictionofbiomespecificpotentialevapotranspirationinmongoliaunderascarcityofweatherdata |