Wang et al. (2025) Regional Evapotranspiration Estimation and Partitioning Model Based on Energy Balance: A Case Study of the Tibetan Plateau

Identification

• Journal: Mendeley Data
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-05
• Authors: Wang, Pei, Zhang, Dapeng
• DOI: 10.17632/89mxvtmrs8.1

Research Groups

• Beijing Normal University

Short Summary

This study develops a novel regional two-source evapotranspiration (ET) model based on energy balance principles to simulate and partition ET into soil evaporation and vegetation transpiration over the Tibetan Plateau at 1 km daily resolution without requiring land surface temperature. The model demonstrates strong performance and superior skill in ET partitioning when validated against flux tower observations and existing regional products.

Objective

• To develop and validate a novel regional two-source evapotranspiration (ET) model that can simulate and partition total ET into soil evaporation (E) and vegetation transpiration (Tr) over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) with high precision, operating at a 1 km daily resolution without relying on land surface temperature.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, specifically the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, with a spatial resolution of 1 km.
• Temporal Scale: Daily simulations from 2003 to 2018.

Methodology and Data

• Models used:
  • Novel regional two-source evapotranspiration (ET) model (extension of Wang and Yamanaka, 2014 energy balance framework).
  • Newton-Raphson method (for iterative solution of energy balance equations).
  • HTESSEL land surface model (within ERA5-LAND reanalysis).
  • Rosetta3 pedotransfer model (for soil hydraulic parameters).
• Data sources:
  • Meteorological forcing: High-resolution China Regional Surface Meteorological Elements Driving Dataset (integrating ground station measurements, satellite retrievals, reanalysis).
  • Vegetation parameters (LAI): GIMMS LAI4g dataset (AVHRR satellite observations).
  • Land cover: MODIS MCD12Q1 product (Terra and Aqua MODIS reflectance data).
  • Soil temperature: ERA5-LAND reanalysis.
  • Soil moisture: China Soil Moisture Dataset (merging satellite microwave retrievals with ground measurements).
  • Soil hydraulic parameters: Derived using Rosetta3 pedotransfer model.
  • Validation data: Eddy covariance flux tower observations from ChinaFLUX, HiWATER, and Tibetan Observation and Research Platform networks (9 sites).
  • Comparison products: SEBS, ETMonitor, PML-V2, MOD16-STM regional ET products.

Main Results

• The developed two-source ET model effectively simulates and partitions total evapotranspiration into soil evaporation and vegetation transpiration over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
• The model operates successfully at a 1 km spatial resolution and daily temporal resolution from 2003 to 2018 without requiring land surface temperature as an input.
• Validation against flux tower observations at nine sites confirmed the model's strong performance and reliability.
• Comparison with existing regional ET products demonstrated the model's superior skill in capturing seasonal and spatial ET dynamics and in partitioning the total flux into its soil and vegetation components.

Contributions

• Development of a novel regional two-source ET model that extends an existing energy balance framework from point to kilometer scale.
• The model's key innovation is its ability to accurately simulate and partition ET without relying on land surface temperature, which is often challenging to obtain, thus enhancing operational feasibility.
• Provides high spatiotemporal resolution (1 km daily) ET and its components over the heterogeneous landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau for an extended period (2003-2018).
• Offers a valuable tool for advancing water and energy cycle studies in complex, data-scarce regions like the Tibetan Plateau by combining physical rigor with practical applicability.

Funding

• Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Wang2025Regional,
  author = {Wang, Pei and Zhang, Dapeng},
  title = {Regional Evapotranspiration Estimation and Partitioning Model Based on Energy Balance: A Case Study of the Tibetan Plateau},
  journal = {Mendeley Data},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.17632/89mxvtmrs8.1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.17632/89mxvtmrs8.1}
}