Applicability of satellite data in estimating actual evapotranspiration by SEBS algorithm (Mughan plain, Ardabil, Iran)

Abstract

Land surface evapotranspiration (ET) is of importance for environmental applications including optimization of irrigation water use, irrigation system performance, crop dehydration, drought mitigation strategies. In this regard, the SEBS algorithm is one of the most widely used algorithms in the field of calculating real evaporation and transpiration. This algorithm uses satellite equipment observations and meteorological information to estimate the energy flux and includes a tool to determine the land surface (such as albedo, surface emissivity, surface temperature, vegetation index, etc.) from satellite images. In this research, using the spectral data and thermal band of Landsat 8, the actual evapotranspiration rate of Iran's Mughan plain in Ardabil province has been estimated. Also, in order to validate the results of the model, the results were compared with the results of the Penman month. Comparing the results of the SEBS algorithm with FAO-Penman-Monteith shows similar values, so it can be concluded that the SEBS algorithm can be a suitable alternative to the traditional methods of calculating Actual evapotranspiration.