U.S Geological Survey, South Florida Ecosystem Program: Place-Based Studies

Project: Evapotranspiration Measurements and Modeling in the Everglades

Web Site: http://sofia.usgs.gov

Location: Central Everglades / Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Principal Investigator: Edward R. German, egerman@usgs.gov, 407.865.7575

Project Personnel: Ed P. Simonds, esimonds@usgs.gov, 407.865.7575

Other Supporting Organizations: None

Associated Projects: None

Overview & Status: One of the most important components of the Everglades water budget is evapotranspiration (ET). ET is water removed from the surface and soils by direct evaporation and plant transpiration. In South Florida, ET rates may exceed 40 in/yr (inches per year) on the average; during dry years, the ET could exceed rainfall (about 50 in/yr). Thus, most of the water that falls on the land surface as rainfall is returned to the atmosphere by ET. The principal objective of the study is to develop an understanding of ET within the Everglades drainage unit, excluding agricultural and brackish environments. To achieve this, a network of eight ET-measurement sites was established, representing the various types of hydrologic and vegetative environments. Continuous measurement of ET at these sites will be used to develop regional models of ET that can be used to estimate ET at other times throughout the Everglades.

Needs & Products: This project provides evapotranspiration (ET) and other meteorological data to managers and other scientists.

Application to Everglades Restoration:. ET models developed during this project are being used by other scientists for estimating the ET component in hydrologic models. Information provided by these data and models will be used by restoration and resource managers for evaluation of restoration and resource management alternatives.