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Water Balance and Evapotranspiration Monitoring in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

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Laboratory and Field Testing of Unsaturated Soils

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Abstract

Among the various components of the water balance, measurement of evapotranspiration has probably been the most difficult component to quantify and measure experimentally. Some attempts for direct measurement of evapotranspiration have included the use of weighing lysimeters. However, quantification of evapotranspiration has been typically conducted using energy balance approaches or indirect water balance methods that rely on quantification of other water balance components. This paper initially presents the fundamental aspects of evapotranspiration as well as of its evaporation and transpiration components. Typical methods used for prediction of evapotranspiration based on meteorological information are also discussed. The current trend of using evapotranspirative cover systems for closure of waste containment facilities located in arid climates has brought renewed needs for quantification of evapotranspiration. Finally, case histories where direct or indirect measurements of evapotranspiration have been conducted are described and analyzed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENPC, 6 et 8 av. Blaise Pascal, Cité Descartes, Champs-sur-Marne, 77455, Marne La Vallee cedex 2, France

    Yu-Jun Cui

  2. The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

    Jorge G. Zornberg

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  1. Yu-Jun Cui
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  2. Jorge G. Zornberg
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Correspondence to Yu-Jun Cui .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Università degli Studi di Trento, 38050, Trento, Italy

    Alessandro Tarantino

  2. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Enrique Romero

  3. Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, 77455, Marne la Vallee, France

    Yu-Jun Cui

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Cui, YJ., Zornberg, J.G. (2008). Water Balance and Evapotranspiration Monitoring in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. In: Tarantino, A., Romero, E., Cui, YJ. (eds) Laboratory and Field Testing of Unsaturated Soils. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8819-3_11

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