Author(s): Fatemehsadat Mortazavizadeh; Majid Mirzaei; David Bolonio
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Climate change impacts; Reference evapotranspiration (ET0); Penman-Monteith equation; Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs); Agricultural water use
Abstract: Climate change is impacting vital environmental and hydrological processes, including reference evapotranspiration (ET0), a crucial component in the management of water resources and the sustainability of agricultural production. This study quantifies the effects of climate change on ET0 in Maryland, USA using the Penman-Monteith formula from FAO56, which incorporates variables such as temperature, wind speed, net radiation, and humidity. The analysis is conducted under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) 126,245, and 585 for the period 2015–2100, utilizing projections from multiple global climate models (GCMs) including ACCESS-ES M1-5, CANESM5, CNRM-ESM2, GFDL-ESM4, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, MRI-ESM2-0, and NORESM2-MM. Results indicate an increase in ET0 across all scenarios, influenced by changes in temperature, wind speed, radiation, and humidity. This rise in ET0 has significant implications for agricultural water demands, irrigation strategies, and overall water resource management. Higher ET0 suggests potential water stress, underscoring the need for adaptive agricultural practices to maintain crop yields in changing climatic conditions. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating ET0 projections into regional water management and agricultural plans.
Year: 2024