ESTIMATING EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION USING SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

摘要

In early 2009, collaboration between the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagilez Campus and the University of Alabama in Huntsville resulted in the availability of a solar radiation satellite remote sensing product for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. The half-hourly and daily-integrated data are available at 1 km resolution for Puerto Rico and 2 km resolution for the other islands. These data are extremely valuable for the purpose of analyzing water resource-related problems. In this paper we describe the technical approach for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET), actual ET, surface runoff, deep percolation and soil moisture content. Results of estimated reference ET are presented for Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Actual ET, surface runoff, deep percolation and soil moisture content estimates are presented for Puerto Rico. This research represents a preliminary step in the development of a suite of remote sensing products that are potentially valuable tools for conducting water resource studies at the island scale.