Evapotranspiration: Water Vapor Release and Transport Mechanisms

This lecture focuses on the release of water from the catchment surface as water vapor, known as evapotranspiration. It explores the mechanisms of evaporation, transpiration, and evapotranspiration, emphasizing the importance of vegetation in the process. The instructor discusses energy balance formulations, aerodynamic methods, and combined approaches to estimate evapotranspiration rates. Various equations and methods, such as the Penman-Monteith equation and the FAO approach, are presented for calculating evapotranspiration. The lecture also covers the significance of meteorological data, the role of stomata in transpiration, and the need for balance closure methods in estimating actual evapotranspiration.