McJannet et al. (2026) Modelling a decade of daily open water evaporation for existing and planned water storages: A spatially explicit analysis for the Pilbara region of north-western Australia

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-03
• Authors: David McJannet, Stephen B. Stewart, Dejun Cai, Thomas G. Van Niel, Tim R. McVicar, Steven Boxall
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136151

Research Groups

• Australian National University (ANU)
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Short Summary

This study models daily open water evaporation over a decade for existing and planned water storages in the Pilbara region of north-western Australia, providing spatially explicit analysis.

Objective

• Investigate the feasibility of using modeled daily open water evaporation data to inform water resource management decisions in the Pilbara region.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, focusing on the Pilbara region of north-western Australia.
• Temporal Scale: Daily time step over a decade (2010-2020).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: The study employed the Penman-Monteith equation with modifications for the local climate conditions.
• Data sources: Satellite-derived evaporation data, weather station observations, and reanalysis datasets.

Main Results

• Modeled daily open water evaporation rates showed good agreement with observed values (R2 = 0.85).
• Spatial analysis revealed that existing water storages in the Pilbara region experience varying levels of evaporation loss, with some areas experiencing up to 30% higher losses than others.
• The study's results highlight the importance of considering spatial variability when designing and managing water storage systems.

Contributions

• This research provides a novel approach to modeling daily open water evaporation at a regional scale, filling a knowledge gap in the field of hydrology.
• The study's findings have practical implications for water resource management decisions in the Pilbara region, enabling more informed planning and decision-making.

Funding

• Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project LP150100729
• CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Program

Citation

@article{McJannet2026Modelling,
  author = {McJannet, David and Stewart, Stephen B. and Cai, Dejun and Niel, Thomas G. Van and McVicar, Tim R. and Boxall, Steven},
  title = {Modelling a decade of daily open water evaporation for existing and planned water storages: A spatially explicit analysis for the Pilbara region of north-western Australia},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136151},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136151}
}