Combined evaporation from water and soil surfaces plus transpiration from plant material. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) values are used for water management planning.
Evapotranspiration (ET) combines evaporation from water and soil surfaces with transpiration from plant material. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) — defined for a reference grass crop with unlimited water — is used as a benchmark for irrigation planning and reservoir capacity design. Reference values across the EU range from 600 mm/year in northern regions to 1,800+ mm/year in southern Spain and Italy. Open industrial water bodies typically experience pan evaporation rates 1.0–1.4× ET0 in the same climate.
Also known as: ET, reference evapotranspiration, ET0