Estimation of evaporative fraction and evapotranspiration from MODIS products using a complementary based model

We present a new formulation to derive evaporative fraction (EF) and evapotranspiration (ET) maps from remotely sensed data without auxiliary relationships or site-specific relationships. This formulation is based on Grangerʹs complementary relationship and Priestley–Taylorʹs equation. The proposed model eliminates the wind function and resistance parameters commonly applied to ET calculation by including a relative evaporation parameter (ET/Epot). By combining this relative evaporation parameter, Grangerʹs complementary relationship and Priestley–Taylor equation, we obtain a simple equation to estimate ET. We tested and validated the proposed formulation over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) region of the United States for seven clear sky days during March–October 2003. MODIS Atmospheric and Land products were the only source of data used in this study. Estimates of ET show an overall root mean square error and bias of 33.89 and − 10.96 Wm− 2, respectively. Our results suggest that the proposed approach is robust and valid for a wide range of atmospheric and surface conditions.