Evaluating the best evaporation estimate model for free water surface evaporation in hyper-arid regions: a case study in the Ejina basin, northwest China

Abstract

Free water surface evaporation is an important process in the hydrologic and energy cycle. Accurate calculation of free water evaporation helps in evaluating the reliability of data on the distribution and quantity of water resources. However, the applicability of evaporation models to the calculation of free water surface evaporation in hyper-arid regions is still uncertain. Moreover, the accuracy of previously used evaporation models should be evaluated for hyper-arid regions. In this study, the Ejina basin in the hyper-arid region of northwest China was selected to address this issue. Measured meteorological data (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) were used to calculate free water surface evaporation using the Dalton model, Penman formula, and energy balance equations. Results from two different Dalton models were higher and lower than the results from E 601 pan evaporation, respectively. Results from the Penman formula were lower than results from E 601 pan, whereas results from the energy balance equations are higher than the results from E 601 pan. The results indicate that previous evaporation models are not suited for calculating free water surface evaporation in hyper-arid regions if not modified. Using meteorological data and radiation data (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000), the Dalton model, energy balance equations, and Penman formula were modified to calculate free water surface evaporation for [2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008]. The average annual evaporation from the three modified models was slightly lower than the evaporation from E 601 pan during [2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008]. However, the errors in the values were only 11-14 mm, which were much lower than in previous models. The modified Dalton model and Penman formula yielded a higher accuracy of the calculation, whereas the modified energy balance equations had the lowest accuracy.

Holocene vegetation signals in the Alashan Desert of northwest China revealed by lipid molecular proxies from calcareous root tubes

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Total organic carbon and its environmental significance for the surface sediments in groundwater recharged lakes from the Badain Jaran Desert, northwest China

“…in contrast to the distribution of precipitation, evaporation increases gradually from the southeast to the northwest. Mean annual water surface evaporation is more than 1000 mm Li et al, 2016a).…”

The paleoenvironmental significance of spatial distributions of grain size in groundwater‐recharged lakes: A case study in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert, northwest China

“…The desert is characterized by a strong continental climate with mean annual precipitation of 90 to 115 mm in the south, and 35 to 43 mm in the north (Ma et al ., ). The annual precipitation in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert is ~100 mm (Ma et al ., ), whereas the mean annual evaporation rate from water surfaces is over 1000 mm/yr (Yang et al ., ; Li et al ., ). No surface flow is observed because of the high ratio between evaporation and precipitation rates (Ma et al ., ; Dong et al ., ).…”