Li et al. (2026) Water-balance-based daily evapotranspiration estimation over the Yangtze River Basin driven by reconstructed daily GRACE/GRACE-FO TWSA (2002–2023)

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-09
• Authors: Chuqiao Li, Yulong Zhong, Lai Wei, Hongbing Bai, Xiaolong Li
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103963

Research Groups

• School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
• Changchun Institute of Surveying and Mapping
• School of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-Sen University
• School of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University

Short Summary

This study reconstructed daily terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) from 2002 to 2023 using GRACE/GRACE-FO data combined with precipitation and temperature, and estimated daily evapotranspiration (ETWB) based on the water balance method. The results show that ETWB exhibits a strong dependence on temporal scale, with high consistency with PML product at multi-day to seasonal scales.

Objective

• To reconstruct daily TWSA in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River Basin from 2002 to 2023 using GRACE/GRACE-FO data combined with precipitation and temperature.
• To estimate daily evapotranspiration (ETWB) based on the water balance method.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: The study area is the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River Basin, covering a total area of approximately 1.8 million km².
• Temporal Scale: Daily to seasonal scales.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: GRACE/GRACE-FO data combined with precipitation and temperature, water balance method.
• Data sources: GRACE/GRACE-FO TWSA, CHMPRE V2 precipitation dataset, CN05.1 temperature dataset, PMLV2 ET product, CLSM ET product.

Main Results

• The reconstructed daily TWSA achieves CC values above 0.75 and NSE above 0.75 against GRACE/GRACE-FO observations.
• The estimated daily evapotranspiration (ETWB) exhibits a strong dependence on temporal scale, with high consistency with PML product at multi-day to seasonal scales.

Contributions

• This study provides an alternative approach for estimating daily ET using the water balance method.
• The results highlight the importance of considering the temporal characteristics of different ET products when selecting appropriate temporal resolutions and preprocessing strategies.

Funding

• National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41661144016)
• National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC1501404)

Citation

@article{Li2026Waterbalancebased,
  author = {Li, Chuqiao and Zhong, Yulong and Wei, Lai and Bai, Hongbing and Li, Xiaolong},
  title = {Water-balance-based daily evapotranspiration estimation over the Yangtze River Basin driven by reconstructed daily GRACE/GRACE-FO TWSA (2002–2023)},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103963},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103963}
}