Advancements in Remote Sensing for Evapotranspiration Estimation: A Comprehensive Review of Temperature-Based Models

Abstract

Quantifying evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for a valid understanding of the global water cycle and for the precise management of the resource. However, accurately estimating ET, especially at large scales, has always been a challenge. Over the past five decades, remote sensing has emerged as a cost-effective solution for estimating ET at regional and global scales. Numerous models have been developed, offering valuable insights into ET dynamics, allowing for large-scale, accurate, and continuous monitoring while presenting varying degrees of complexity. They mainly belong to two categories despite the variability of their empirical or physical components: temperature and conductance-based models. This comprehensive review synthesizes the fundamental theories and development history of the most used temperature-based models. It focuses on this specific category to maintain conciseness and prevent extended work. It describes the approaches used and presents the chronology of the modifications made and suggested by researchers. Moreover, it highlights the validation studies and the models’ advantages and drawbacks. The review addresses the long-standing challenge of accurately quantifying evapotranspiration at different scales, offers a retrospective comparative analysis spanning a 15-year period, and supports practitioners in selecting the most appropriate model for a specific set of conditions. Moreover, it discusses advancements in satellite missions, such as the Copernicus Space Component and Landsat Next, and their impact on enhancing ET estimation models.