Abstract
•The FAO Penman-Monteith method was used to model the spatial distribution of ETo.•Spatial–temporal distribution of actual evapotranspiration were estimated using SEBAL.•Zonal statistics for each kind of land-cover type was also carried out.•Daily and seasonal water consumption for major crops were computed.
In countries with absolute water scarcity such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), large-scale actual evapotranspiration estimation is of great concern in water use practices. Herein, spatial and temporal distribution of actual evapotranspiration (AET) in the western and southern regions of KSA during 1992–2014 was estimated using the SEBAL model with field observations. Zonal statistics for each land use-cover type were also identified, in order to understand their effects on water consumption. In addition, daily and seasonal water consumption for major crops was computed. Results revealed a gradual increase in monthly AET values from January to April and subsequent decline from May to December. The maximum monthly AET values were observed for irrigated cropland in southwestern, central, and southeastern regions of Asir Province, central and southwestern regions of Al-Baha Province, central and the plains region of Jazan Province, southern portion of Makkah Province, and limited areas in the northern regions of Madinah Province. The annual AET ranged from 418.8 to 3442.3mmyr−1. The normal distribution of mean annual AET values ranged from 717 to 1020mmyr−1. Forty-two percent of the study area had an annual AET that ranged from 717 to 1020mmyr−1. The second highest range of frequencies was concentrated around 1020–1322mmyr−1, representing the majority of agricultural land. The consumptive water use of the different land cover types in study area indicated that irrigated cropland which occupied 14.6% of the study area had AET rates much higher than other land uses. Water bodies are the next highest, with forest and shrubland and sparse vegetation slightly lower, and very low AET rates from bare soil. Daily and seasonal water consumption of major cropping systems varied spatially depending on cropping practices and climatic conditions.