Spatial Distribution Maps of Evapotranspiration Rate over Saudi Arabia

Estimation of daily evapotranspiration is the key issue in water resources management. In arid environments located countries, e.g. Saudi Arabia; water resources are scare and under pressure. Agricultural practices in Saudi Arabia consume about 85% of national water budget. Therefore, national scale of daily evapotranspiration is national quest for better water resources management in the country. Penman–Monteith equation used to estimate the potential daily evapotranspiration across the whole Saudi Arabia territory adjoined by the help of the meteorological stations distributed all over the country. Potential daily evapotranspiration thematic maps were produced on monthly basis in addition to annual potential daily evapotranspiration map of the designated study area. Results pointed out that potential daily evapotranspiration could be divided into three categories according to the amount of the potential water evaporated. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the current research for enhanced water resources rationalionalization.