MEASURING EVAPORATION WITH CERAMIC BELLANI PLATE ATMOMETERS

Ceramic atmometers were tested to determine their usefulness for measu ring evaporation in water resources applications. Field experiments we re used to evaluate the precision, responsiveness to a range of potent ial evaporation conditions in a forested catchment, and interpretation of water loss of Bellani plate atmometers. The experiments, conducted from April to October in a warm, humid climate in the southeastern Un ited States, indicate that atmometers can be reliable monitoring instr uments for estimating potential evaporation. The small size, portabili ty, low internal thermal mass, low cost, and ability to integrate the effect of radiation, air temperature, humidity and windspeed into one direct measurement of potential evaporation, make atmometers a useful instrument for certain water resources applications.