A soil-based measure of evapotranspiration

A soil based measure of evapotranspiration was field tested in the growing seasons of 1987 and 1988. This method relies on: (1) tracking the plane of zero flux (PZF) in a soil profile over time and (2) quantification of the change in moisture content, above the PZF, in the soil profile over time. This approach effectively eliminates one of the major drawbacks of the traditional water balance, namely the problem of drainage out of or upward flow into the zone of interest in the soil which can result in serious overestimation or underestimation of evapotranspiration. The only instrumentation necessary to implement this procedure are tensiometers, a neutron probe (or some other means of quantifying the moisture content at depth in a non-destructive manner) and a hand-operated gravimetric sampler. This method was found to perform satisfactorily for periods as short as 6 days. An extensive error analysis pertaining to this method is presented as are suggestions for improving the performance of the soil based measure of evapotranspiration.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Kirsch, Scott Wood

Contributors dc:contributor

• Isard, Scott A.

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Physical Geography
• Hydrology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1989 Kirsch, Scott Wood

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9010920
(UMI)AAI9010920

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22660