USGS MODIS ET

Datasets:

Description: Remote sensing derived evapotranspiration dataset based on MODIS-thermal imagery and global weather datasets. Climate Engine is using version 5 of the global ET product.

Organization: United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Website: FEWS NET page

Google Earth Engine:

MODIS ET datasets provided through Earth Engine Community Catalog (projects/earthengine-legacy/assets/projects/usgs-ssebop/modis_et_v5_dekadal, projects/earthengine-legacy/assets/projects/usgs-ssebop/modis_et_v5_monthly, and projects/earthengine-legacy/assets/projects/usgs-ssebop/modis_et_v5_annual)

Spatial resolution: 1-km grid (1/96-deg)

Time Span: 2003 to 2023 (updated every 10-12 days)

Variables:

ETa: Actual Evapotranspiration (mm)

Terms of Use:

USGS-authored or produced data and information are considered to be in the U.S. Public Domain.

References:

Senay, G.B., Kagone S., Velpuri N.M., 2020, Operational Global Actual Evapotranspiration using the SSEBop model: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9OUVUUI. Publication: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/7/1915
Senay, G. B., Budde, M. E., & Verdin, J. P. (2011). Enhancing the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) approach for estimating landscape ET: Validation with the METRIC model. Agricultural Water Management, 98(4), 606-618.
Senay, G. B., Budde, M., Verdin, J. P., & Melesse, A. M. (2007). A coupled remote sensing and simplified surface energy balance approach to estimate actual evapotranspiration from irrigated fields. Sensors, 7(6), 979-1000.
Velpuri, N. M., Senay, G. B., Singh, R. K., Bohms, S., and Verdin, J. P. (2013). A comprehensive evaluation of two MODIS evapotranspiration products over the conterminous United States: Using point and gridded FLUXNET and water balance ET, Remote Sensing of Environment, 139, 35-49, (Abstract and Article)

Notes

Actual ET (ETa) is produced using the operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model (Senay et al., 2013) for the period 2003 to present.
The SSEBop setup is based on the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) approach (Senay et al., 2007, 2011) with unique parameterization for operational applications using a principle that is comparable to psychometry. A comprehensive evaluation of the model was conducted by Velpuri et al. (2013).
The global ET is derived from the integration of MODIS-based (Aqua) land surface temperature, maximum air temperature from WorldClim, and reference ET derived from global data assimilation systems(GDAS).