Women have been crucial to the EROS workforce from the very beginning in a variety of areas, from customer service and computers to film processing and administration.
Evapotranspiration and Water Use Mapping
Active
By Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
September 14, 2018
Water is one of our most valuable natural resources and understanding how it’s used is essential for managing it wisely. Scientists at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center use satellite data to estimate how much water is lost from the land through evapotranspiration (ET)—the combined effect of evaporation from soil and water surfaces and transpiration from plants.
These ET estimates are generated using tested models developed at EROS, which combine remote sensing and weather data to provide detailed, reliable maps of water use across the United States. This information helps farmers, land managers, and policymakers make informed decisions about irrigation, drought response, and long-term water planning. Updated regularly, these tools support monitoring of seasonal patterns and long-term trends, helping identify areas of concern and guiding sustainable water management across farms, forests, and public lands.
Available Models
SSEBop model
The Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model developed at EROS estimates water use by plants in irrigated fields using thermal data from Landsat’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA’s Terra satellite.
SSEBop combines rates of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants to return evapotranspiration (ET) readings that can help water managers decide how much water is needed throughout the growing season.
The model supports various aspects of the USGS Water Use Mission Area, including the National Water Use Science Project and the National Water Census, which releases a trove of water use information every five years.
EROS produces actual ET maps that depict monthly, seasonal cumulative, end of season and yearly anomalies for the conterminous United States, which are color-coded to depict rates above or below the median.
The maps are useful in determining irrigation needs, but also instructive of water use in different environment
The maps, data, product descriptions and helpful links are located online at the SSEBop website.
Download a poster
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Using Remote Sensing to Understand Water Use in the Milk River Basin
The U.S. and Canada share water from the Milk River that is used to support agricultural irrigation, drinking water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. To help managers make more informed decisions about how to divide the water between the countries, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists used satellite images and a computer model. This model provides monthly and annual estimates of actual...
Using Satellite Imagery to Estimate Consumptive Water Use from Irrigated Lands in the Milk River Basin, United States and Canada
The U.S. Geological Survey, with the support of the International Joint Commission, and in cooperation with Alberta Environment and Parks, Blackfeet Nation, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, is leading a project that should improve information available to apportion water between Canada and the United States in the St. Mary and...
Actual Evapotranspiration for Florida
Evapotranspiration is a large component of the Florida water budget – generally second only to rainfall, but exceeding rainfall and all other components during droughts. The prominence of evapotranspiration highlights the need to accurately quantify this hydrologic component in quantitative analyses of watershed hydrology. Spatio-temporal estimates of evapotranspiration throughout Florida are...
Evapotranspiration and Water Use poster
Evapotranspiration and Water Use poster
Eyes on Earth Episode 17 - Evapotranspiration
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we hear how scientists use satellites like Landsat to measure ET, and how those...
Eyes on Earth Episode 115 – EROS Women in Science
Women have been crucial to the EROS workforce from the very beginning in a variety of areas, from customer service and computers to film processing and administration.
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of California
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of CaliforniaIn this episode of Eyes on Earth, we zero in on the use of USGS Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) products to examine the effects of drought on California’s Blue Oaks. LCMAP datasets are built from Landsat data and reveal the land cover and change of every pixel in the conterminous United States, dating back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of California
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of CaliforniaIn this episode of Eyes on Earth, we zero in on the use of USGS Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) products to examine the effects of drought on California’s Blue Oaks. LCMAP datasets are built from Landsat data and reveal the land cover and change of every pixel in the conterminous United States, dating back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud Computing
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud ComputingSatellite imagery is everywhere. We see it on TV news and weather coverage, in our Twitter and Facebook feeds, and on our phones’ mapping apps. The data behind that imagery is nothing like a screenshot, though.
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud Computing
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud ComputingSatellite imagery is everywhere. We see it on TV news and weather coverage, in our Twitter and Facebook feeds, and on our phones’ mapping apps. The data behind that imagery is nothing like a screenshot, though.
Eyes on Earth Episode 39 – Brazil’s Water Use
Brazil is a fascinating study in water use. Brazil uses roughly 72 percent of its water for irrigated agriculture, and its herds of cattle, pigs and poultry are among the largest in the world.
Brazil is a fascinating study in water use. Brazil uses roughly 72 percent of its water for irrigated agriculture, and its herds of cattle, pigs and poultry are among the largest in the world.
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenET
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenETEvapotranspiration is the process by which water transpires from the leaves and stems of plants and evaporates from the Earth’s surface. ET is an important metric for managing water use, but data availability has long been an issue.
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenET
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenETEvapotranspiration is the process by which water transpires from the leaves and stems of plants and evaporates from the Earth’s surface. ET is an important metric for managing water use, but data availability has long been an issue.
Eyes on Earth Episode 21 - Forests of Ghana
In the West African nation of Ghana, tropical forests are more than landscape. They are woven into language, custom, and culture. They are also the source of timber for home heating and industry, as well as barriers to agricultural production. Those are just a few of the reasons why deforestation has come alongside the nation’s rapid population growth.
In the West African nation of Ghana, tropical forests are more than landscape. They are woven into language, custom, and culture. They are also the source of timber for home heating and industry, as well as barriers to agricultural production. Those are just a few of the reasons why deforestation has come alongside the nation’s rapid population growth.
Eyes on Earth Episode 17 - Evapotranspiration
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal.
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal.
Water is one of our most valuable natural resources and understanding how it’s used is essential for managing it wisely. Scientists at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center use satellite data to estimate how much water is lost from the land through evapotranspiration (ET)—the combined effect of evaporation from soil and water surfaces and transpiration from plants.
These ET estimates are generated using tested models developed at EROS, which combine remote sensing and weather data to provide detailed, reliable maps of water use across the United States. This information helps farmers, land managers, and policymakers make informed decisions about irrigation, drought response, and long-term water planning. Updated regularly, these tools support monitoring of seasonal patterns and long-term trends, helping identify areas of concern and guiding sustainable water management across farms, forests, and public lands.
Available Models
SSEBop model
The Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model developed at EROS estimates water use by plants in irrigated fields using thermal data from Landsat’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA’s Terra satellite.
SSEBop combines rates of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants to return evapotranspiration (ET) readings that can help water managers decide how much water is needed throughout the growing season.
The model supports various aspects of the USGS Water Use Mission Area, including the National Water Use Science Project and the National Water Census, which releases a trove of water use information every five years.
EROS produces actual ET maps that depict monthly, seasonal cumulative, end of season and yearly anomalies for the conterminous United States, which are color-coded to depict rates above or below the median.
The maps are useful in determining irrigation needs, but also instructive of water use in different environment
The maps, data, product descriptions and helpful links are located online at the SSEBop website.
Download a poster
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Using Remote Sensing to Understand Water Use in the Milk River Basin
The U.S. and Canada share water from the Milk River that is used to support agricultural irrigation, drinking water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. To help managers make more informed decisions about how to divide the water between the countries, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists used satellite images and a computer model. This model provides monthly and annual estimates of actual...
Using Satellite Imagery to Estimate Consumptive Water Use from Irrigated Lands in the Milk River Basin, United States and Canada
The U.S. Geological Survey, with the support of the International Joint Commission, and in cooperation with Alberta Environment and Parks, Blackfeet Nation, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, is leading a project that should improve information available to apportion water between Canada and the United States in the St. Mary and...
Actual Evapotranspiration for Florida
Evapotranspiration is a large component of the Florida water budget – generally second only to rainfall, but exceeding rainfall and all other components during droughts. The prominence of evapotranspiration highlights the need to accurately quantify this hydrologic component in quantitative analyses of watershed hydrology. Spatio-temporal estimates of evapotranspiration throughout Florida are...
Evapotranspiration and Water Use poster
Evapotranspiration and Water Use poster
Eyes on Earth Episode 17 - Evapotranspiration
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we hear how scientists use satellites like Landsat to measure ET, and how those...
Eyes on Earth Episode 115 – EROS Women in Science
Women have been crucial to the EROS workforce from the very beginning in a variety of areas, from customer service and computers to film processing and administration.
Women have been crucial to the EROS workforce from the very beginning in a variety of areas, from customer service and computers to film processing and administration.
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of California
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of CaliforniaIn this episode of Eyes on Earth, we zero in on the use of USGS Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) products to examine the effects of drought on California’s Blue Oaks. LCMAP datasets are built from Landsat data and reveal the land cover and change of every pixel in the conterminous United States, dating back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of California
Eyes on Earth Episode 71 – Blue Oak Forests of CaliforniaIn this episode of Eyes on Earth, we zero in on the use of USGS Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) products to examine the effects of drought on California’s Blue Oaks. LCMAP datasets are built from Landsat data and reveal the land cover and change of every pixel in the conterminous United States, dating back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud Computing
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud ComputingSatellite imagery is everywhere. We see it on TV news and weather coverage, in our Twitter and Facebook feeds, and on our phones’ mapping apps. The data behind that imagery is nothing like a screenshot, though.
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud Computing
Eyes on Earth Episode 58 - Satellites and Cloud ComputingSatellite imagery is everywhere. We see it on TV news and weather coverage, in our Twitter and Facebook feeds, and on our phones’ mapping apps. The data behind that imagery is nothing like a screenshot, though.
Eyes on Earth Episode 39 – Brazil’s Water Use
Brazil is a fascinating study in water use. Brazil uses roughly 72 percent of its water for irrigated agriculture, and its herds of cattle, pigs and poultry are among the largest in the world.
Brazil is a fascinating study in water use. Brazil uses roughly 72 percent of its water for irrigated agriculture, and its herds of cattle, pigs and poultry are among the largest in the world.
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenET
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenETEvapotranspiration is the process by which water transpires from the leaves and stems of plants and evaporates from the Earth’s surface. ET is an important metric for managing water use, but data availability has long been an issue.
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenET
Eyes on Earth Episode 35 – Watching the Water Supply with OpenETEvapotranspiration is the process by which water transpires from the leaves and stems of plants and evaporates from the Earth’s surface. ET is an important metric for managing water use, but data availability has long been an issue.
Eyes on Earth Episode 21 - Forests of Ghana
In the West African nation of Ghana, tropical forests are more than landscape. They are woven into language, custom, and culture. They are also the source of timber for home heating and industry, as well as barriers to agricultural production. Those are just a few of the reasons why deforestation has come alongside the nation’s rapid population growth.
In the West African nation of Ghana, tropical forests are more than landscape. They are woven into language, custom, and culture. They are also the source of timber for home heating and industry, as well as barriers to agricultural production. Those are just a few of the reasons why deforestation has come alongside the nation’s rapid population growth.
Eyes on Earth Episode 17 - Evapotranspiration
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal.
It’s easy enough to measure rainfall, and nearly as easy to measure streamflow. Calculating the efficiency of water use through the metric of evapotranspiration (ET) – evaporation off the Earth’s surface and transpiration from the leaves of plants – is a far trickier proposal.