Applicability of using ArcMap to spatiallycalculate and display monthly evapotranspiration rates : An investigation using government climate datain British Columbia, Canada

Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is the sum of the evaporation of water from the Earth’s surface and the total transpiration from plants.  Spatially calculating ET is necessary because it is a major component in quantifying a water budget, and maps provide the spatial ability to display the distribution.  Geographic information systems (GIS) are a powerful and capable tool which can spatially process and integrate equations in order to quantify ET rates.  Probable ET equation types that best fit with ArcMap software were investigated, and the methodology of España et al was evaluated in terms of usefulness and ease of replication, while beneficial areas for future expansion were also commented on.  Interpolation of some weather and other variables, as well as the use of the raster calculator in ArcMap was the basis of the project methodology.  Temperature based ET equations were selected as the best equation category, and then specifically the Blaney-Criddle, Thornthwaite, and Hargreaves equations were used to calculate potential evapotranspiration (PET) rates in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The methodology of España et al provided a relatively easy way to spatially display algebraic evapotranspiration equations.  The results were compared to values of sixteen reference stations, which had been computed by the Penman-Monteith equation.  PET values that were interpolated were not as accurate as hoped, however the Hargreaves and Blaney-Criddle methods produced better results than the Thornthwaite method, which resulted in underestimates.  Nonetheless, the PET distribution pattern was displayed, and of use to show the areas of highest and lowest rates of PET.  In order to produce more accurate values, regional or crop coefficients could be applied to calculate actual evapotranspiration (AET), but time constraints placed on the project restricted the trial of this.