Operational Actual Wetland Evapotranspiration Estimation for South Florida Using MODIS Imagery

Authors

Cristobal N. Ceron, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Geosciences

First Advisor's Name

Assefa Melesse

First Advisor's Committee Title

Co-Committee

Second Advisor's Name

René Price

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Co-Committee

Third Advisor's Name

Dean Whitman

Fourth Advisor's Name

Pete Markowitz

Keywords

Remote Sensing, Evapotranspiration, ET, Wetlands, MODIS

Date of Defense

4-15-2014

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to validate the ability of the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) approach and the Simple Method to provide AET estimates for wetland recovery efforts. The study utilizes the MODIS sensor aboard NASA's Terra satellite and SFWMD solar radiation data to derive AET values for South Florida. The SSEB/Simple-Method approach provided mixed results with good agreement with control values during dry season (r_ave (59) = 0.700, p_ave < 0.0005) and poor agreement during wet season (r_ave(46) = 0.137, p_ave = 0.304). Further refinement is needed to make this method viable for yearly estimates due to the poor performance during wet season months. This approach can prove useful for short term wetland recovery assessment projects that occur during the dry season and/or long term projects that compare AET rates from a site from dry season to dry season.

Identifier

FI14071129

Recommended Citation

Ceron, Cristobal N., "Operational Actual Wetland Evapotranspiration Estimation for South Florida Using MODIS Imagery" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1454.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1454