Reference Evapotranspiration by Hargreaves and Modified Hargreaves Equations under Semi-Arid Environment

Abstract

The Penman-Monteith (FAO-56 PM) ETo equation is considered as the standard ETo equation to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ETo) under all the weather conditions of the world. But there are many regions of the globe where all the climatic data is not available to evaluate FAO-56 PM ETo equation. So, Hargreaves (HG) ETo equation can be used which required very small number of weather data. The HG ETo equation requires only air temperature as input data which is available at most of the weather stations of the world. But the major drawback of HG ETo equation is that it overestimates or underestimates FAO-56 PM ETo equation. So it becomes necessary to modify HG ETo Equation according to the local climatic conditions before it is being applied. The HGorg and modified HG ETo equations are assessed for ETo estimation under cold and hot semi-arid climatic conditions of Quetta and Zhob weather stations by using 9 years meteorological data of each weather station against FAO-56PM ETo equation. The original HG ETo equation overestimates FAO-56 PM ETo equation at Zhob weather station by giving percentage error of 15.82% and underestimate at Quetta weather station by giving percentage error of 35.02%. The coefficient of original HG ETo equation was modified by using a simple mathematical logic. The overestimation at Zhob weather station reduced to 1.89% and underestimation at Quetta station reduced to 0.87% by using modified HG ETo equation. The variations of original HG ETo equation with FAO-56 PM ETo equation has RMSE of 0.89 mm/day at Zhob weather station and 1.74 mm/day at Quetta weather station. The variations of modified HG ETo equation with FAO-56 PM ETo equation has RMSE of 0.27 mm/day at Zhob weather station and 0.29 mm/day at Quetta weather station.