Wang et al. (2026) Spatiotemporal dynamics of reference evapotranspiration in China (1981–2020): Insights into its teleconnection with sea surface temperature patterns

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-07
• Authors: Yudong Wang, Xin Lan, Mengyang Wu, Ahmed Elbeltagi, Juan Wang, Xinchun Cao
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136379

Research Groups

• Institute of Hydrology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IH-CAS)
• Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Water Security in Yangtze River Basin, Ministry of Water Resources (KLB-WCWS-YRB)

Short Summary

This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) in China from 1981 to 2020, revealing its teleconnection with sea surface temperature (SST) patterns.

Objective

• Investigate the spatial and temporal variability of ET0 in China over the past four decades.
• Examine the relationship between ET0 and SST patterns in the Pacific Ocean.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: National scale, covering all provinces in mainland China.
• Temporal Scale: 40-year period from 1981 to 2020.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: The Penman-Monteith equation was employed to estimate ET0.
• Data sources: Meteorological data were obtained from the National Meteorological Information Center of China, while SST data were derived from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature dataset.

Main Results

• The study found that ET0 in China has increased over the past four decades, with a significant trend in the eastern regions.
• A strong positive correlation was observed between ET0 and SST patterns in the Pacific Ocean, particularly in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of ET0 in China, highlighting its teleconnection with SST patterns.
• The findings have implications for understanding the impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China.

Funding

• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under grant numbers 51979211 and 52109213.

Citation

@article{Wang2026Spatiotemporal,
  author = {Wang, Yudong and Lan, Xin and Wu, Mengyang and Elbeltagi, Ahmed and Wang, Juan and Cao, Xinchun},
  title = {Spatiotemporal dynamics of reference evapotranspiration in China (1981–2020): Insights into its teleconnection with sea surface temperature patterns},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136379},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136379}
}