To evaluate if evapotranspiration can be used as a proxy for land use-land cover
Student name: Ms Sanhita
Guide: Ms Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Sekhar Muddu
Abstract: Evapotranspiration forms the most important constituent of the hydrological cycle. It’s ground estimation are time consuming, tedious and uneconomical. Many a times geographical constraints also restricted it’ estimation. At this time, remote sensing came up as a viable alternative. ET for each km2 in Berambadi watershed was extracted through DeFRac model using MODIS dataset between 2005-13. The results were verified through flux tower established by ISRO at Maddur. A gradient in AET and slope of AET/PET was found from west to east which was validated by on field agricultural practices.
STICS crop model was used to estimate ET (irrigated) and ET (rain-fed) and compared to actual ET. A simple model based on energy balance was developed and cross checked using STICS. It was employed to estimate the ratio of irrigated and bare soil. The temporal trend of increase in the irrigated area was studied. Ratio of Kharif crop was found to rise from 0.2 in 2002 to around 0.8 in 20014 while Rabi, summer and winter crops showed comparatively lesser rise.
Sustainability in agriculture and groundwater usage is the need of the hour.
Keywords: Evapotranspiration, MODIS, Flux Tower, Sustainability, groundwater
