An ensemble mean method for remote sensing of actual evapotranspiration to estimate water budget response across a restoration landscape
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Abstract
Estimates of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) are valuable for effective monitoring and management of water resources. In areas that lack ground-based monitoring networks, remote sensing allows for accurate and consistent estimates of ETa across a broad scale—though each algorithm has limitations (i.e., ground-based validation, temporal consistency, spatial resolution). We developed an ensemble mean ETa (EMET) product to incorporate advancements and reduce uncertainty among algorithms (e.g., energy-balance, optical-only), which we use to estimate vegetative water use in response to restoration practices being implemented on the ground using management interventions (i.e., fencing pastures, erosion control structures) on a private ranch in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This paper describes the development of a monthly EMET product, the assessment of changes using EMET over time and across multiple land use/land cover types, and the evaluation of differences in vegetation and water distribution between watersheds treated by restoration and their controls. We found that in the absence of a ground-based monitoring network, the EMET product is more robust than using a single ETa data product and can augment the efficacy of ETa-based studies. We then found increased ETa within the restored watershed when compared to the control sites, which we attribute to increased plant water availability.
Study Area
Publication type | Article |
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Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | An ensemble mean method for remote sensing of actual evapotranspiration to estimate water budget response across a restoration landscape |
Series title | Remote Sensing |
DOI | 10.3390/rs16122122 |
Volume | 16 |
Issue | 12 |
Year Published | 2024 |
Language | English |
Publisher | MDPI |
Contributing office(s) | Western Geographic Science Center |
Description | 2122, 35 p.; Data Release |
Country | Mexico |
State | Baja California Sur |
Other Geospatial | Los Planes Basin |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |