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A Diurnal Distribution Function for Daily Evaporation
Author(s) -
Fleming P. M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr006i003p00937
Subject(s) - evaporation , sunrise , potential evaporation , environmental science , distribution (mathematics) , pan evaporation , function (biology) , distribution function , atmospheric sciences , diurnal cycle , meteorology , mathematics , physics , mathematical analysis , thermodynamics , evolutionary biology , biology
Some deterministic mathematical models of hydrologic processes require an approximate diurnal distribution of evaporation. The problem of estimating the diurnal distribution of evaporation rates is examined when only total daily evaporation is given. Two cases are considered, clear days and cloudy days, and nondimensional distribution functions are developed for each case. Application of the distribution functions requires a knowledge of the time of sunrise and daylength. Operating rules to decide which distribution function to employ are given in terms of alternate data, sunshine hours, solar radiation, and daily evaporation. The preliminary nature of the results is emphasized.