A Computer System of Estimating Reference Crop Evapotranspiration

Using the Modified Penmans (FAO - 24) Method

Menelaos Theocharis 1
1

Department of Crop Production Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, 47100 Arta, Greece theoxar@teiep.gr

Abstract:

The rational designing of irrigation systems requires the calculation of the evapotranspiration in the best possible way.
Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETr) is the rate at which water, if available, would be removed from the soil and
plant surface of a specific crop, arbitrarily called a reference crop. The classical Penman method is a combination
equation that considers both the energy and aerodynamic aspects of the ET r process. Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) modified the original Penmans method in 1977. This method uses mean daily climatic data, with
an adjustment for day and night time weather conditions. The modified Penmans (FAO-24) method is considered
to be one of the most accurate methods for the computation of evapotranspiration and must be used when
all the required climatological data are available. The required calculating procedure when the above modified
Penmans (FAO-24) method is used, is very complex and calls for a lot of calculations. In this paper we present a
computer system of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration using the modified Penmans (FAO-24) method. The
system facilitates irrigation network designers in calculating reference crop evapotranspiration. It is simple in use, do
not demand special informatics knowledge, and it is approachable to a wide range of researchers. Systems
architecture includes a user-friendly interface for the data input, a computational module and the output subsystem,
where the user is given a detailed table of results. The computer system provides a quick and accurate solution to the
problem of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration. In addition, it could be incorporated as subroutine of
integrated software dealing with hydraulic calculations.

Key words:

Computer system, Crop evapotranspiration, Irrigation, Penmans method.

1. INTRODUCTION
The rational designing of irrigation systems requires the calculation of the evapotranspiration in
the best possible way. Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET r) is the rate at which water, if
available, would be removed from the soil and plant surface of a specific crop, arbitrarily called a
reference crop. The classical Penmans method (Penman 1963) is a
combination equation that considers both the energy and aerodynamic aspects of the ET r
process. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) modified the original Penmans method in
1977. This method uses mean daily climatic data, with an adjustment for day and night time
weather conditions. The modified Penmans (FAO-24) method is considered to be one of the most
accurate methods for the computation of evapotranspiration and must be used when all the required
climatological data are available.The required calculating procedure when the above modified
Penmans (FAO-24) method is used, is very complex and calls for a lot of calculations. In this paper
we present a computer system of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration using the modified
Penmans (FAO-24) method. The system facilitates irrigation network designers in calculating
reference crop evapotranspiration. It is simple in use, do not demand special informatics knowledge,
and it is approachable to a wide range of researchers. Systems architecture includes a user-friendly
interface for the data input, a computational module and the output subsystem, where the user is
given a detailed table of results. The computer system provides a quick and accurate
solution to the problem of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration. In addition, it
could be incorporated as subroutine of integrated software dealing with hydraulic calculations.

2. THE MODIFIED PENMANS (FAO-24) METHOD

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) modified the original Penman equation (Penman
1963) in 1977. The modifications included a revised wind function, an adjustment factor to account
for local conditions and the assumption that the daily average ground heat flux is zero. This method
uses mean daily climatic data, with an adjustment for day and night time weather conditions. The
modified equation used in this method (Doorenbos and Pruitt 1977; Jennifer, 2001) is:
ETr

C
w

(R n G)

(1 W)f(u)(e a e d )

(1)

where ETr is the reference evapotranspiration, mm/day; W is a temperature and the altitude of
the area related weighting factor; Rn is the net solar radiation, MJm-2d-1; G is the soil heat flux in
MJm-2d-1; is the latent heat of evaporation, MJ kg -1; w = 1000 kgm-3, is the density of water;
f(u) is the wind related function, kg hPa-1m-2d-1; ea is the saturation vapour pressure at mean air
temperature, hPa; ed is the mean actual vapour pressure of the air, hPa; and C is an adjustment factor
to account for day and night weather conditions.
2.1 Weighting Factor (W)
This is a weighting factor for the effect of solar radiation, the wind and humidity on ET r. It is
given by the equation:
W

(2)

where is the rate of change of saturation vapour pressure with temperature, hPa 0C -1, and is the
psychometric constant, hPa 0C -1, which are calculated from the equations provided by Brunt (Brunt
1952), and Bosen (Bosen 1960) respectively:

17.27 T
a

4098

Ta

237.3

6.11 exp

T 237.3
a

hPa 0C -1

(3)

and
5.2586

0.0065
h
273 Ta

1.5156 0.0014307 Ts
1

hPa 0C -1

(4)

where Ta and Ts are the daily mean air and water temperature, 0C; and h is the altitude of the area, m.
2.2 Humidity (ea-ed)
Humidity is expressed as the difference between the mean saturation water vapour pressure (e a)
and the mean actual vapour pressure (ed). From Tetens (Tetens 1930), saturated air vapour pressure
as a function of temperature, ea, can be computed as follows:

17.27 Ta

e a 6.11 exp

T 237.3
a

hPa

(5)

The actual vapour pressure is calculated using saturation vapour pressure and the mean relative humidity:
e d e a Rh mean

Therefore:

hPa

(6)

 17.27 T
a

e a e d (1 - Rh mean )6.11 exp

T 237.3
a

hPa

(7)

2.3 Wind Factor ( f(u) )

Wind Factor expressing the effect of wind on ETr using the modified Penmans (FAO-24) method, is
calculated (Doorenbos and Pruit 1997) from:
f (u ) 0.27(1 0.86u 2 ) kg hPa-1m-2d-1

(8)

Wind speed is measured at many different heights above the ground surface. The Penmans
equation requires wind speed at a height of 2.00 m. It can be adjusted to a height of 2.00 m by:
2

0, 2

u2 uz

ms-1

(9)

where: u2 and uz is the wind speed corresponded at height of 2.00 m and z m, in ms-1; and z is the
height of wind measurement, m.
2.4 Net Radiation (Rn)
Net Radiation is the difference between incoming and outgoing solar radiation. It can be
measured, but such data are seldom available. Instead, it is calculated from solar radiation on
sunshine hours, temperature, and humidity data (Koutsoyiannis and Xanthopoulos 1997; Papazafiriou
1999). The FAO-24 Penmans approach calculates Rn as follows:
The net radiation is the algebraic sum of the net shortwave radiation (R ns) and net longwave
radiation (Rnl). As Rnl constitutes a loss, this relationship is:
MJm-2d-1

R n R ns R nl

(10)

Net shortwave radiation (Rns), can be calculated by correcting the incoming solar radiation for
surface albedo () of the crop surface by:
R ns 1 - R s MJm-2d-1

(11)

where: = 0.05 for water surface; = 0.15 for bare soil surfaces; and = 0.23 for green vegetated
surfaces. For most crops = 0.25.
Solar radiation (Rs), is calculated using the amount of radiation received at the top of the
atmosphere (Ra). This value is calculated (Duffie and Beckman 1980,1991) by:
R a 3.6

2 I s d r
180
sin sin
sin s cos cos
s

15

MJm-2d-1

(12)

where: I s 1.367 kWm-2 is the solar constant; dr is the relative distance from the sun to the earth;
is the station latitude, degrees; is the declination of the sun, degrees; s is the sunset hour angle,
degrees; The values of dr , and s are calculated respectively from:
360

d r 1 0.034 cos
J 2.86479

365

360

( 284 J )
365

23.45 0 sin

and

(13)

(14)

 s arccos ( tan tan)

degrees

(15)

In the above relations, J is the Julian day of the year considered given from:
J 30,5M 14,6 (integer)

(16)

where M =1,2,3,,12 is the number of the month considered.

After that solar radiation (Rs), is obtained with the Angstrom formulation:
n

R s 0.25 0.50 R a MJm-2d-1

N

(17)

where n and N are correspondently the actual and the maximum possible sunshine hours , hd-1; and

2
s
15

hd-1

(18)

Net longwave radiation (Rnl), can be determined from available temperature, the vapour pressure
and the n/N ratio data by the equation:
R nl n f L (Ta 273) 4

MJm-2d-1

(19)

where = 4.903*10-9 , MJ K-4 m-2 day-1, is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant ; n is the net emissivity
factor which is calculated by e n 0.34 - 0.044 e d ; and fL is the cloudiness adjustment factor which
is calculated by f L 0.1 0.9

n
N

Therefore Rnl can be determined by:

n
R nl (Ta 273) 4 0.34 - 0.044 e d 0.1 0.9

MJm-2d-1

(20)

2.5 Soil Heat Flux (G)

Soil heat flux is calculated from the relation provided by Jensen et al. (1990):
G csd s

Tn 1 Tn 1
t

or G 2 c s d s

Tn Tn 1
t

MJ m-2d-1

(21)

where Tn+1, Tn and Tn-1 are respectively the mean temperature on next month n+1, month considered
n, and on previous month n-1, 0C; cs is the soil heat capacity = 2.1MJ m -3 0C -1; t is the length
period ; ds is the estimated effective soil depth and ds = 0,18 m for daily temperature fluctuations and
ds = 0,03 m for monthly temperature fluctuations (Jensen et. al. 1990).
Therefore G can be determined by: G 0,38 Td Td 1 MJ m-2d-1 for daily temperature fluctuations
and by: G 0,14 Tn Tn 1 or G 0,07 Tn 1 Tn 1 MJ m-2d-1 for monthly temperature
fluctuations.
Note: The soil heat flux is generally very small and it is assumed to be G = 0.01R n during the
day and G = 0.02Rn during the night. According to FAO-24 modifications it is assumed that the
daily average ground heat flux is zero.

2.6 Adjustment Factor (C)

The Penman equation assumes that the most common conditions occur when radiation is
medium to high, maximum relative humidity is medium to high and moderate daytime wind about
double the night time wind. These conditions are not always met. The Penman equation has to be

corrected in such situations using an adjustment factor. The adjustment factor as developed by Allen
et al. (1989) and obtained from Jensen et al. (1990) is given by:
C 0.892 - 0.0781u d 0.00219 u d R s 0.000402 Rh max R s 0.000196

0.0000198

ud
un

u d Rh max R s 0.00000236 u 2d Rh max

ud
un

u
R s 0.0000086 d

un

u d Rh max
2

u d Rh max

(22)

u
d
u 2 Rh 2max R s 0.0000161 Rh max R s2

d
un

0.0000000292

where ud and un are correspondently the daytime and night time wind speed, ms-1;
2.501 0.002361Ts MJ kg-1 ;

(23)

and
R s

Rs
w

mmd-1

(24)

Note: The modified Penmans (FAO 24) method requires day and night wind speed. If the wind
data to evaluate the correction factor are not available, it is adequate to estimate that the u d/un value
is 1.5 during the convective season and 1.85 during the frontal season.
2.7 Reference Crop Evapotranspiration (ETr)
After combining the above equations, the modified Penmans (FAO-24) equation is given by:
ETr

C
w

Rn

W (1 W)f(u)(e a e d )

(25)

where all the parameters used, are as above have been described.

3. ESTIMATING REFERENCE CROP EVAPOTRANSPIRATION ACCORDING TO THE

MODIFIED PENMANS METHOD (FAO-24) USING PERSONAL COMPUTER
The required calculating procedure when the above modified Penmans (FAO-24) method is used, is
very complex and calls for a lot of calculations. For this reason, we found necessary to develop a simple
computer system that enables researchers and students to easily calculate reference crop evapotranspiration.
This program, being accessible by those who need it, could be embedded as subroutine in larger
computer systems dealing with hydraulic calculations.

3.1 Organising the Input Parameters

The first step is to organise the data for the problem on the spreadsheet. In Figure 1, the input
parameters for the altitude of the area, h in m, the height of wind speed measurement, z in m , the
wind speed corresponded at height z, u z in m/s, the number of the month considered, M, the station
latitude, in degrees, the daily mean air temperature, Ta in 0C, the daily mean water temperature,
Ts in 0C, the actual possible sunshine hours, n in h/d, the ratio of daytime and nighttime wind speed
ud/un, the mean relative humidity, Rhmean in %, and the maximum relative humidity, Rhmax in %, were
entered in cells e15, i15, m15, e18, i18, m18, e21, i21, m21, e24 and i24 respectively.

Figure 1. Spreadsheet of data and calculations of ET r using the

modified Penmans (FAO-24) method.

3.2 Solving the Problem

In order to solve the problem the following macro command is created:
Sub Crop_Evapotranspiration ()
Macro recorded in 24/1/2009 by M. Theocharis
Range("f3") = "Estimating Reference Crop Evapotranspiration "
Range("f4") = "Using the Modified Penman's Method (FAO 24)"
Range("h12") = "Input Parameters "
h = Range("e15").Value
z = Range("i15").Value
uz = Range("m15").Value
M = Range("e18").Value
= Range("i18").Value
Ta = Range("m18").Value
Ts = Range("e21").Value
n = Range("i21").Value
Ru = Range("m21").Value
Rhmean = Range("e24").Value
Rhmax = Range("i24").Value
= (4098/((Ta+237.3)^2)*6.11*exp(17.27*Ta/(Ta+237.3)))
= ((1-0.0065*h/(273+Ta))^5.2586)/(1.5156-0.0014307*Ts)
W = /(+)
Range("e30") = W
ea = 6.11*Exp(17.27*Ta/(Ta+237.3))
ed = ea*Rhmean/100
Range("i30") = ea-ed
Fu = (0.27*(1+0.86*uz*(2/z)^0.2))
Range("m30") = Fu
J = Int(30.5*M-14.6)
dr =1+0.034*Cos((4*Atn(1)/180)*(360*Int(30.5*M-14.6)/365-2.86479))
= 23.45*Sin((4*Atn(1)/180)*(360*(284+Int(30.5*M-14.6))/365))
coss = -Tan(4*Atn(1)*/180)*Tan(4*Atn(1)*/180)
s = (180/(4*Atn(1)))*(Atn(-coss/Sqr(-coss*coss+1))+2*Atn(1))
Ra = 1/15*(3.6*2*1.367*dr)*(s*Sin(4*Atn(1)*/180)*Sin(4*Atn(1)*/180)+(180/(4*Atn(1)))*
Sin(4*Atn(1)*s/180)*Cos(4*Atn(1)*/180)*Cos(4*Atn(1)*/180))
= (2/15)*s
Rs = (0.25+0.5*n/)*Ra
Rns = (1-0.25)*Rs
Range("e33") = Rns
Rnl = 4.903*10^-9*((Ta+273)^4)*(0.34-0.0442719*ed^0.5)*(0.1+0.9*n/)
Range("i33") = Rnl
Rn = Rns-Rnl
Range("m33") = Rn
= 2.501-0.002361*Ts
Range("e36") =
C = 0.892-0.0781*(uz* (2/z)^0.2)+0.00219*(uz*(2/z)^0.2)* Rs/+0.000402* Rhmax* Rs/+
0.000196* Ru*(uz* (2/z)^0.2)* Rhmax+0.0000198* Ru*(uz* (2/z)^0.2)* Rhmax *Rs/+
0.00000236* (uz*(2/z)^ 0.2)^2*Rhmax*Rs/-0.0000086*Ru^2*(uz*(2/z)^0.2)*Rhmax0.0000000292* Ru*(uz*(2/z)^0.2)^2* Rhmax^2*Rs/-0.0000161*Rhmax*(Rs/)^2
Range("i36") = C
ETr = C*(W*Rn /+(1-W)*(0.27*(1+0.86*uz*(2/z)^0.2))*(ea-ed))
Range("m38") = Round(ETr,3)&" mm/d"
End Sub

After that we click the Solutions button and the solution of the problem results.The described
procedure is shown in Figure 1.

4. APPLICATION
Below the reference crop evapotranspiration in Arta, Greece area for the month July are
estimated, using the above described computer system, Figure 1. For the input parameters:
h = 150.00 m; z =10.00 m ; u z = 3.30 m/s; M=7 ; = 39.13 0 ; Ta = 25.30 0C ; Ts =15.00 0C ;
n =11.26 hd-1; ud/un = 1.50 ; Rhmean = 64.90 % ; and Rhmax = 79.90 % ; it emerges that: W = 0.7445 ;
ea-ed = 11.323 hPa ; f(u) = 0,825 kg hPa-1m-2d-1 ; Rns= 19.489 MJm-2d-1; Rnl = 4.275 MJm-2d-1 ;
Rn =15.214 MJm-2d-1; = 2.466 MJ kg-1; C = 1.063 and finally the reference crop evapotranspiration
ETr =7.421 mm/d.

5. CONCLUSIONS
Solving problems of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration is of prime importance for the
study of irrigation networks.
The required calculating procedure when the modified Penmans (FAO-24) method is used is
very complex and calls for a lot and very laborious calculations. This is why FAO developed
various tables where the values of the calculating parameters are provided.
But these tables are very unpractical in use and include significant inaccuracies in values
determination. Besides, it is impossible to use them when trying to solve the problems using a
computer.
The computer system presented in this paper is simple in use, does not demand special
informatics knowledge and is approachable to a wide range of researchers. In addition, it could be
incorporated as subroutine of integrated software dealing with irrigation calculations.

REFERENCES
Allen, R.G., Jensen, M.E. Wright J.L. and R.D. Burman, 1989: Operational estimates of reference evapotranspiration. Agronomy
Journal., 81(4):650-662.
Allen, R.G., Pruitt, W.O., 1991. FAO-24 reference evapotranspiration factors. J. Irrig. Drain. 117(5): 758-774.
Bosen, J.F., 1960. A formula for approximation of saturation vapor pressure over water. Monthly Weather Rev. 88(8): 275-276.
Brunt, D., 1952. Physical and dynamical meteorology. 2nd ed., University Press, Campridge,428p.
Doorenbos, J., Pruitt, W.O., 1977. Crop water requirements. Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24, (rev.) FAO, Rome, Italy, 144 pp.
Duffie, J.L. and Beckman, W.L., 1980. Solar Engineering of thermal processes. John Wiley and sons, New York, p 1-109
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Engineering Practices No. 70., ASCE, New York, NY, 360 pp.
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model (Final Report). Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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