Using the METRIC Model to Estimate Evapotranspiration in the Coastal Mid-Atlantic Region

Crop irrigation accounts for a considerable amount of water use in the Coastal Mid-Atlantic region. A better understanding of how often farmers need to irrigate their fields could decrease water waste and lower economic costs. The METRIC model is a powerful tool that calculates evapotranspiration (ET) based on localized data. Executable in ESRI ArcGIS software from a Python script, the model was used as a decision support tool that can provide farmers with information regarding ET rates, allowing them to make more informed irrigation decisions.

METRIC was used to calculate ET through a series of equations where local input variables were acquired from Landsat 8 sensors, a United States Geological Survey (USGS) survey based Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from GTOPO30, and local AWOS stations. While METRIC-derived ET estimates are beneficial for irrigation purposes, it also provides state officials with a useful proxy for drought monitoring. Utilizing data from NASA Earth observations in the Coastal Mid-Atlantic region contributes to a large-scale, more-complete, understanding of water consumption behavior in an area.

Location

NASA Langley Research Center

Term

Fall 2014

Partner(s)

Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
Virginia Secretary of Technology
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Digital Harvest

NASA Earth Observations

Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS
Aqua MODIS
TRMM PR
Terra ASTER

Team

Kent Sparrow (lead)
Nathan Qian
Jelly Riedel
Cassandra Morgan
Stephen Kochaver
Zakaria Boston
Oyinlayifa Porbeni

Advisor(s)

Dr. Kenton Ross (NASA DEVELOP National Science Advisor)
James Favors (NASA DEVELOP International Lead)

Project Video