A comparative spectral assessment approach of SEBAL and SEBS for actual evaporation estimation in Ardabil Province

Abstract

Evapotranspiration is a crucial process in the Earth's water and climate cycle, responsible for transforming water from liquid to water vapor. This transformation plays a vital role in the global water cycle and has a significant impact on the climate, weather patterns, and precipitation in various regions. In this study, actual evapotranspiration in the Mughan plain of Ardabil province has been estimated using spectral data from the OLI and TIRS sensors of the Landsat 8 satellite. The SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) and SEBS (Surface Energy Balance System) methods have been employed to calculate these phenomena. SEBAL is an energy balance algorithm designed for land surfaces, utilizing satellite data to estimate actual evapotranspiration accurately. Similarly, SEBS is a surface energy balance system that provides a more precise estimation of evapotranspiration and transpiration rates. Data from the OLI and TIRS sensors of Landsat 8 were collected from the study area for this research. By applying the SEBAL and SEBS methods to these data, actual evapotranspiration values in the Mughan plain were obtained. The results indicated that SEBAL showed a broader range of actual evapotranspiration values (0.74 to 5.8 mm) compared to SEBS (1.25 to 8.85 mm), highlighting its ability to distinguish different regions with varying evapotranspiration rates. However, SEBAL's implementation is more computationally demanding than SEBS, making the calculation process time-consuming. Overall, both algorithms demonstrated relatively high capabilities in calculating instantaneous evapotranspiration using spectral data. The findings of this study can be valuable for water resources and agricultural management in the research area, as well as for water resource planning and environmental studies.

Keywords

• Evapotranspiration
• Mughan plain
• OLI and TIRS sensors
• SEBAL
• SEBS

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