| Abstract |
Reference evapotranspiration (ET0, RefET in graphs) is a measure of the rate at which water evaporates from a hypothetical reference surface, that is covered by growing vegetation. The reference surface ensures consistency. ET0 is an important climatic indicator representing the "evaporating power of the atmosphere". It is only influenced by meteorological factors and not by crop type, growth stage or soil conditions. It is also not a representation of how much water is actually evaporating and available for evaporation.
The main application of reference evapotranspiration is to serve as a benchmark for determining the water needs of crops. Moreover, it is an indicator of droughts, with higher ET0 indicating drought conditions. ET0 can further be linked to the health of the hydrological cycle and the effects of climate change.
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