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Evaluation of solar radiation estimation methods for reference evapotranspiration estimation in Canada

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Abstract

The accuracy of nine solar radiation (R s ) estimation models and their effects on reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) were evaluated using data from eight meteorological stations in Canada. The R s estimation models were FAO recommended Angstrom-Prescott (A-P) coefficients, locally calibrated A-P coefficients, Hargreaves and Samani (H-S) (1982), Annandale et al., (2002), Allen (1995), Self-Calibrating (S-C, Allen, 1997), Samani (2000), Mahmood and Hubbard (M-H) (2002), and Bristow and Campbell (B-C) (1984). The estimated R s values were then compared to measured R s to check the appropriateness of these models at the study locations. Based on root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE) and modelling efficiency (ME) ranking, calibrated A-P coefficients performed better than all other methods. The calibrated H-S method (using new K RS 0.15) estimated R s more accurately than FAO-56 recommended A-P in Elora, and Winnipeg. The RMSE of the calibrated H-S method ranged between 1-6% and the RMSE of the calibrated and FAO recommended Angstrom-Prescott (A-P) methods ranged between 1-9%. The models with the least accuracy at the eight locations are the Mahmood & Hubbard (2002) and Self-Calibrating models. The percent deviation in ET o calculated with estimated R s was reduced by about 50% as compared to deviation in measured versus estimated R s .

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  1. Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart building, Macdonald Campus 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

    Olanike O Aladenola & Chandra A Madramootoo

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  1. Olanike O Aladenola
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  2. Chandra A Madramootoo
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Correspondence to Olanike O Aladenola.

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Aladenola, O.O., Madramootoo, C.A. Evaluation of solar radiation estimation methods for reference evapotranspiration estimation in Canada. Theor Appl Climatol 118, 377–385 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-013-1070-2

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