Comparison of the Penman-Monteith method and regional calibration of the Hargreaves equation for actual evapotranspiration using SWAT-simulated results in the Seolma-cheon basin, South Korea

The Hargreaves method provides reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) estimates when only air temperature data are available, although it requires previous local calibration for an acceptable performance. This method was evaluated using the data from 71 meteorological stations in the Seolma-cheon basin (8.48 km 2 ), South Korea, comparing daily estimates against those from the Penman-Monteith (PM) method, which was used as the standard. To estimate reference ET o more exactly, considering the climatological characteristics in South Korea, parameter regionalization of the Hargreaves equation is carried out. First, the modified Hargreaves equation is presented after an analysis of the relationship between solar radiation and temperature. Second, parameter (K ET ) optimization of the regional calibration of the Hargreaves equation (RCH) is performed using the PM method and the modified equation at 71 meteorological stations. Next, an application was carried out to evaluate the evapotranspiration methods (PM, original Hargreaves and RCH) in the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model by comparing these with the measured actual evapotranspiration (AET) in the basin. The SWAT model was calibrated using 3 years (2007-2009) of daily streamflow at the watershed outlet and 3 years (2007-2009) of daily AET measured at a mixed forest. The model was validated with 3 years (2010-2012) of streamflow and AET. RCH will contribute to a better understanding of evapotranspiration of an ungauged watershed in areas where meteorological information is scarce. EDITOR D. Koutsoyiannis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Not assigned