Variations and Sensitivity Analysis of Reference Evapotranspiration During 2010-2019 in the Zhangye Farmland Oasis, Northwest China
Abstract Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is an important parameter for agricultural water management in the arid Zhangye farmland oasis. However, the ET0 variations in this oasis over the last decade and meteorological forcings of these variations are unknown. This study investigated the ET0 variations during 2010-2019 in this oasis using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith (PM) and Hargreaves equations. Results showed that the ET0 features daily and monthly variations with peak values in mid-July and an annual cycle. Although the estimated ET0 series based on the two equations have high correlations in the time domain, the Hargreaves equation always underestimates the ET0 compared to the PM equation. The yearly ET0 showed statistically significant increasing trends (90% significance level) during 2010-2019, while statistically significant increasing trends in monthly ET0 are found only in March and November. Increasing trends reflected in monthly and yearly ET0 are mainly attributed to the increasing maximum temperature and sunshine duration and decreasing relative humidity. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the meteorological factor to which the ET0 is most sensitive varies with time scale and equation. Moreover, regression equations used to correct the underestimation associated with the Hargreaves equation for estimating ET0 in the Zhangye farmland oasis also were constructed.