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CALIBRATIONS FOR COMPUTING THORNTHWAITE'S POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN CALIFORNIA

Marlyn L. Shelton

Abstract

The Thornthwaite method for computing evapotranspiration has been employed in a variety of climatic realms. Recently, the equation for computing potential evapotranspiration has been shown to underestimate measured moisture losses in dry environments. This study presents monthly calibration equations that enhance the reliability of the Thornthwaite estimates of evapotranspiration for California stations. Six years of calibrated monthly potential evapotranspiration are compared with lysimetermeasured evapotranspiration at Davis and with other estimates of evapotranspiration for this site.

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Key concepts: Evapotranspiration, Environmental science, Calibration, Mathematics, Statistics, Ecology, Biology