J. Z. Xu - Hohai University
S. Z. Peng - Hohai University
S. H. Yang - Hohai Univerisity
Y. F. Luo - Hohai univeistiy
Y. J. Wang - Hohai University

The Hargreaves-Samani (HS) equation, which estimates reference evapotranspiration (ET۰) using only temperature as input, should be most suitable for ET۰ prediction based on weather forecasting data. In the current study, the HS equation is calibrated with daily ET۰ by the Penman-Monteith equation, and is evaluated to check the possibility of predicting daily ET۰ based on weather forecast data. The HS equation is likely to overestimate daily ET۰ in the humid regions of China. Coefficients a and c are calculated as ۰.۰۰۱۳۸ and ۰.۵۷۳۶ according to local calibration. The calibrated HS equation performs considerably better than the original one. The proposed equation could be an alternative and effective solution for predicting daily ET۰ using public weather forecast data as inputs. The error of daily ET۰ prediction increases with the increase in the error of daily temperature range (TR) or daily mean temperature (Tmean). This error is likely to be more sensitive to the error in TR than in the Tmean. Ensuring that TR errors are less than ۲°C is necessary for perfect estimations of ET۰ based on public weather forecast data using the calibrated HS equation.

Hargreaves-Samani equation, Humid region, Local calibration, Reference evapotranspiration, Sensitivity Analysis, Weather forecast data