Abstract: Water balance for 31 locations in Greece is calculated on the basis of long-term average monthly precipitation, evapotranspiration and combined soil and vegetation characteristics, according to the method proposed by Thomthwaite and Mather. Monthly evapotranspiration estimates are calculated from 27 years (1960–1987) of routine meteorological data using the original Penman method. Soil and vegetation characteristics specific for the locations under study are combined in the water capacity of the root zone (WCRZ). similar water balance calculations were carried out using various fixed values of WCRZ for all stations, to evaluate the effects of soil and vegetation through the WCRZ in the final estimates of soil moisture deficits. Water balance calculations were also performed using average monthly evapotranspiration estimates calculated according to the empirical Tbomthwaite method. Results were compared in order to show possible differences that could be attributed to the method of estimating evapotranspiration. Finally, results obtained with a value of WCRZ fixed at 300 mm and potential evapotranspiration estimated by the Thomthwaite method for the period 1969–1987 were compared with existing similar results over a longer period in the past (1931–1968), in order to detect diachronic changes in the water balance components over the same regions in Greece.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 20
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