Estimating actual evapotranspiration using OLI images and SEBAL algorithm (Case study: Dasht-e Naz, Sari)

Estimation of evapotranspiration is,one of the main components of the hydrological cycle, and is essential for irrigation scheduling, water balance, irrigation system design and management and crop yields simulation. Unlike conventional methods remote sensing estimates evapotranspiration in different spatial scales. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate evapotranspiration using OLI sensor images and SEBAL algorithm in the Dasht-e-Naz area, Sari, Iran. To evaluate the results, evapotranspiration estimated by the reference method, Penman-Monteith-FAO, was compared with SEBAL algorithm. Strong and significant correlation was obtained between these two methods (R2=0.93), Low error of estimation by SEBAL compared with reference method (RMSE=1.14) and low absolute difference between the SEBAL and Penman-Monteith-FAO (MAE=0.96) indicates that there is a good match between estimated values by SEBAL algorithm and Penman-Monteith-FAO standard method. This study showed that OLI sensor images and SEBAL algorithm could satisfactorily estimate actual evapotranspiration in the Dasht-e-Naz area, Sari.