An Integrated Framework of Operational ET Remote Sensing Program for Irrigation Management in the Texas High Plains.

Irrigated agriculture and management of limited groundwater are critical issues in the Texas High Plains where irrigation accounts for more than 90% of groundwater use. With low recharge rates, groundwater levels in the underlain Ogallala aquifer are declining at unsustainable rates. Daily field-scale evapotranspiration (ET) maps would significantly improve assessment of crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling, leading to more efficient use of limited water resources. Therefore, an integrated framework of operational ET remote sensing program for irrigation management in the Texas High Plains has been developed and currently being implemented. This paper presents a detailed methodology involved in the implementation of the above-mentioned integrated framework for deriving and distributing high resolution daily ET maps using climatic data from the Texas High Plains ET Network (TXHPET) and routinely available thermal remote sensing data. In addition, preliminary results and research needs for successfully implementing the proposed framework for providing high resolution ET maps to producers and groundwater management districts will be discussed.