Introducing QWaterModel, a QGIS plugin for predicting evapotranspiration from land surface temperatures. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellsäßer, Florian; Röll, Alexander; Stiegler, Christian; Hendrayanto, ; Hölscher, Dirk
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 130(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Evaporation -- Transpiration -- Water cycle -- DATTUTDUT -- Energy balance -- Open source -- Hydrological modeling -- Thermography -- Thermal images -- Drone -- UAV; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is a central flux in the hydrological cycle. Various approaches to compute ET via energy balance models exist, but their handling is often complex and challenging. We developed QWaterModel as an easy-to-use tool to make ET predictions available to broader audiences. QWaterModel is based on the DATTUTDUT energy balance model and uses land surface temperature maps as an input. Such maps can e.g. be obtained from satellite, drone or handheld camera imagery. In the present study, we successfully tested QWaterModel for predicting ET in a tropical oil palm plantation against the well-established eddy covariance method. QWaterModel is compatible with all versions of QGIS3 and is available from the official QGIS Plugin Repository. Highlights: QWaterModel is an easy-to-use QGIS3 plugin tool for predicting evapotranspiration. It is based on the DATTUTDUT energy-balance model. Input options include land surface temperature maps from satellites, drones and handheld cameras. Predicted evapotranspiration rates are highly congruent with eddy covariance measurements.