Comparison of Micrometeorological Methods used for the Determination of Actual Evapotranspiration

Comparison of Micrometeorological Methods used for the Determination of Actual Evapotranspiration Levent ŞAYLAN 1 , Yunus Ozkoca 2* , Baris Caldag 1 , Fatih Bakanogullari 3 1 Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Meteorological Engineering, Istanbul * Antalya Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate,  Antalya 3 Ataturk Soil Water and Agricultural Meteorology Research Institute, Kirklareli * * Corresponding Author: yunus.ozkoca@afad.gov.tr  Abstract : Among upmost important effects of climatic variability and change are the related variations in type, amount and timing of precipitation at global or regional scales. This aspect causes different effects from the agricultural point of view.  Among these effects the drought phenomenon comes to the forefront.  Efforts on eliminating the agricultural drought problem are mainly made by irrigation.  That’s why the upmost important portion of available water is consumed by agricultural irrigation, globally. Concordantly, the evapotranspiration plays a crucial role on determination of the irrigation water requirement for agriculture and planning the related systems. Usage of the methods on direct measurement of actual evapotranspiration by global means, however; is quite scarce.  In this study, the Bowen Ratio Energy Balance and micrometeorological Eddy Covariance Methods, which are widely in use for the measurement of actual evapotranspiration, have been used within the 2009-2010 wheat growing season in Kirklareli. In conclusion, a comparative evaluation of these approaches was done for the advantages and disadvantages by means of their determination abilities of actual evapotranspiration. Key words: Evaporation, Evapotranspiration, Bowen Ratio, Energy Balance, Eddy Covariance