Méndez‐Barroso et al. (2026) Constraining the maximum entropy production approach with sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to estimate evapotranspiration in a seasonally dry deciduous forest

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-25
• Authors: Luis A. Méndez‐Barroso, H. A. Gutiérrez‐Jurado, G. A. Juarez-Cansdales, Enrico A. Yépez
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136295

Research Groups

• Department of Water and Environmental Sciences, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (Mexico)
• Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (USA)
• Posgrado en Recursos Naturales, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (Mexico)

Short Summary

This study evaluates the performance of the maximum entropy production (MEP) approach in estimating evapotranspiration (ET) in a semi-arid ecosystem using sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) as a constraint. The results show that the MEP model performs well in comparison with in-situ ET observations and independent global transpiration assessments.

Objective

• Evaluate the performance of the maximum entropy production approach in estimating evapotranspiration in a seasonally dry deciduous forest.
• Investigate the effect of constraining the MEP model with vegetation phenology using remote sensing estimates of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence on transpiration fluxes during the growing season.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Semi-arid ecosystem, specifically a seasonally dry deciduous forest in Mexico.
• Temporal Scale: Daily and seasonal time scales.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Maximum entropy production (MEP) approach with constraints from sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF).
• Data sources: In-situ ET observations using the eddy covariance technique, remote sensing estimates of SIF, and meteorological data.

Main Results

• The MEP model performed well in estimating daily ET (R = 0.96 and MAE = 0.32 mm d−1) compared to in-situ ET observations.
• The constrained MEP model showed excellent robustness in transpiration estimates during the growing season, outperforming independent global transpiration assessments such as GLEAM and PML.

Contributions

• This study provides a reliable alternative for estimating evapotranspiration at long-term semiarid and remote monitoring sites using simple meteorological observations.
• The constrained MEP approach can improve transpiration fluxes during the growing season by incorporating vegetation phenology information from SIF estimates.

Funding

• This research was funded by [project name] (reference code: [insert reference code]).

Citation

@article{MéndezBarroso2026Constraining,
  author = {Méndez‐Barroso, Luis A. and Gutiérrez‐Jurado, H. A. and Juarez-Cansdales, G. A. and Yépez, Enrico A.},
  title = {Constraining the maximum entropy production approach with sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to estimate evapotranspiration in a seasonally dry deciduous forest},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136295},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136295}
}