Applied Analysis of Estimated Evapotranspiration Values From Satellite Imagery to Identify Potential Water Conservation Areas in Urmia Lake Basin

In recent years, several studies have been carried out to estimate evapotranspiration of crops in different ways at Urmia Lake basin or locally. In many of these studies, the feasibility of estimating the actual water-use has been investigated with different algorithms. The purpose of this study was to extract a practical result in order to achieve the aims of restoring Lake Urmia. Estimated evapotranspiration values using SEBAL algorithm were compared with rainfall values in different zones to locate irrigated areas. From the results of this study, areas with high water consumption “Hot spots” were extracted at the basin. These areas can represent areas with maximum water saving potential. Estimated actual evapotranspiration (ETa) values using satellite images compared with rainfall values (P-ETa = (+) rainfed or = (-) net irrigation requirement) for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15 were extracted in different zones at basin. The results showed that actual evapotranspiration values in the western (Urmia plain), south-eastern lakes (Miandoab and Mahabad plains), and in parts of the northeast and northwest (Sarab and Salmas) were much higher than the amount of rainfall. Which indicates the high concentration of irrigated lands in these areas. Land use maps also showed high density of irrigated land in these areas. In result, identifying irrigated areas with high water saving potential can be to implement water saving pilot schemes and to provide the lost water of the lake.