Evapotranspiration Trends and Interactions in Light of the Anthropogenic Footprint and the Climate Crisis: A Review

Abstract

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a parameter of major importance participating in both hydrological cycle and surface energy balance. Trends of ET are discussed along with the dependence of evaporation to key environmental variables. The evaporation paradox can be approached via natural phenomena aggravated by anthropogenic impact. ET appears as one of the most affected parameters by human activities. Complex hydrological processes are governed by local environmental conditions thus generalizations are difficult. However, in some settings, common hydrological interactions could be detected. Mediterranean climate regions (MCRs) appear vulnerability to the foreseen increase in ET, aggravated by precipitation shifting and air temperature warming, whereas in tropical forests its role is rather beneficial. ET determines groundwater level and quality. Groundwater level appeared to be a robust predictor of annual ET for peatlands in Southeast Asia. In semi-arid to arid areas, increases in ET have implications on water availability and soil salinization. ET-changes after a wildfire can be substantial for groundwater recharge if a canopy-loss threshold is surpassed. Those consequences are site-specific. Post-fire ET rebound seems climate and fire-severity-dependent. Overall, this qualitative structured review sets the foundations for interdisciplinary researchers and water managers to deploy ET as a means to address challenging environmental issues such as water availability.

Evapotranspiration Components Dynamic of Highland Barley Using PML ET Product in Tibet

“…The ET estimated from the water balance model also presented an increasing trend for 16 catchments [71,72]. This phenomenon of increasing trends had also been observed in Mediterranean-climate regions during almost the same period [73]. Additionally, the effect of temperature on the ET in the alpine region was more pronounced than that in other regions [74].…”

Artificial Neural Networks for the Prediction of the Reference Evapotranspiration of the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece

“…Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) is a key climate parameter investigated in the frame of climate crisis and water resources management [1][2][3][4]. Moreover, ETo has an effect on the productive sector of agriculture [5].…”

Advances in Evaporation and Evaporative Demand

“…The paper "Evapotranspiration Trends and Interactions in Light of the Anthropogenic Footprint and the Climate Crisis: A Review" [10] by Stavroula Dimitriadou and Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos, reviewed emerging ET trends over the latest decades in areas with different environmental conditions in the context of the ongoing climate change. Additionally, they focused on critical components such as the anthropogenic impact on ET and, the mechanisms in which ET participates in forest land-cover and wildfires, croplands (irrigation and cultivation practices), groundwater (quantity and quality), and ambient air.…”