Estimates of Potential Evapotranspiration Over The State of Qatar

Abstract

Several methods for the estimation of potential evapotranspiration are reported in the literature covering a wide variation in the complexity of calculation and nature of climatic data required. Five of the more commonly used methods (Blaney-Criddle, Thomthwaite, Pan Evaporation, Radiation and Penman) are used to estimate mean monthly potential evapotranspiration values using data from three agro-hydro-meteorological stations sited in the north, central and south-western areas of Qatar. The results are compared and analyzed. Effect of micro-climatic conditions that varies between desert and oasis type environments was found pronounced.