Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration of Wheat Using SEBAL Algorithm Compared to Lysimetric Results under Standard Conditions in Tabriz and Karaj Research Stations

The aim of this study was to estimate the actual evapotranspiration of wheat using Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) and compare with data measured by lysimeters in two study sites in Tabriz and Karaj during three growing seasons (1396-1399). Values of actual evapotranspiration of wheat during the growing seasons were calculated by two methods a) using Landsat 8 satellite data through SEBAL, and b) using drained lysimeter data. Considering that evapotranspiration in SEBAL is in actual conditions and lysimeters provide evapotranspiration in potential conditions (standard situation without any limitation), to reduce errors, remote sensing data were used for pixels that had moisture conditions similar to standard lysimeters conditions. Comparison of actual evapotranspiration obtained from SEBAL and lysimeter in both sites showed relatively good correlation. The coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.73 and 0.65 in, respectively, Karaj and Tabriz sites. In addition, using statistical parameters such as NRMSE, RMSE, MAE, and MBE showed that SEBAL actual evapotranspiration data and lysimeteric data were, relatively, in agreement in the two study sites. However, in most cases, evapotranspiration values by SEBAL were greater than values measured by the lysimeter. In general, considering the advantages of the SEBAL, it is suggested this technology be used to estimate the actual evapotranspiration of wheat in large-scale areas.