Assessing the Accuracy of Remote Sensing Evapotranspiration Estimates Against Eddy Covariance Data in Semi-Arid Agriculture

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a crucial role in the water cycle, influencing hydrology, agriculture, and climate. Capturing its spatial and temporal distribution at broad scales is vital for effective water resource management. This study validates five ET estimation products, using direct measurements from Eddy covariance towers across different crops in Morocco's Haouz plain. The aim is to ascertain each product's performance at the field scale, including their usage over irrigated land. Findings indicate variable performances of these products depending on the crop type and irrigation scheme. Given the variance across spatial and temporal resolutions, and differing irrigation schemes, no single product uniformly excelled, showing the necessity of selecting a suitable product based on specific needs.