Predicting future changes in potential evapotranspiration based on RCP scenarios in Halilrood Watershed

Changes in water cycles in different parts of the world is one of the effects of climate change in recent decades. Evapotranspiration, as the part of the hydrological cycle, will also undergo these changes. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of climate change on potential evapotranspiration changes in Halilrood Watershed, under RCP2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios using LARS-WG downscaling model and the output of the general circulation model of HadGEM2 in future (2021-2040) was studied and the rate of evapotranspiration at the basin scale was calculated based on the predicted climatic parameters using Tornthwaite method in future. According to the results of the LARS-WG model, in the study area, precipitation will decrease and the temperature will increase under all scenarios in future compared to the baseline period. Evapotranspiration will also increase based on the predicted temperature and precipitation. So that, at the basin scale, evapotranspiration will increase by 3.4, 6.8 and 8.5 under RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios in future (2040-2021), respectively. According to the results, the highest increase in temperature and evapotranspiration and the highest decrease in precipitation at the basin scale is related to the RCP 8.5 scenario. The results of this study can be used in studies related to water resources management, agricultural and environmental studies.