Introducing QWaterModel, a QGIS plugin for predicting evapotranspiration from land surface temperatures

Abstract

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a central flux in the hydrological cycle. Various approaches to compute ET via energy balance models exist, but their handling is often complex and challenging. We developed QWaterModel as an easy-to-use tool to make ET predictions available to broader audiences. QWaterModel is based on the DATTUTDUT energy balance model and uses land surface temperature maps as an input. Such maps can e.g. be obtained from satellite, drone or handheld camera imagery. In the present study, we successfully tested QWaterModel for predicting ET in a tropical oil palm plantation against the well-established eddy covariance method. QWaterModel is compatible with all versions of QGIS3 and is available from the official QGIS Plugin Repository.