Estimation of olive evapotranspiration using multispectral and thermal sensors placed aboard an unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to develop a remote sensing energy balance (RSEB) algorithm for estimating olive evapotranspiration (ET) using multispectral and thermal sensors placed aboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). During February and March 2014, measurements of micrometeorological variables, surface energy balance components and remote sensing data were obtained from a dripirrigated olive orchard located in the Pencahue Valley, Maule Region, Chile (35°25' L.S; 71°44' L.W; 90 m a.s.l.). The performance of the RSEB algorithm was evaluated using measurements of ET obtained from an eddy correlation system. Results indicated that RSEB algorithm overestimated ET by about 13% with a r..