D&V Cube Full Guide

5. Reference Evapotranspiration (MetRef)

MetRef (ET0), the reference evapotranspiration retrieved from METEOSAT “is the evapotranspiration rate from a clearly defined reference surface. The concept was introduced to allow the estimation of the evaporative demand of the atmosphere independently of crop type, crop development or management practices. ET0corresponds to the evapotranspiration from a hypothetical extensive well-watered field covered with 12 cm height green grass having an albedo of 0.23would experience under the given down-welling short-wave radiation (Allen et al., 1998).” (LSA SAF Product User Manual Reference Evapotranspiration (DMETREF), p.10) 

The Climate Data Record of MetRef covers the period 20 January 2004 – 31 December 2015. The Interim Climate Data Record of MetRef (see video) provided in this cube covers the period 01 January 2016 – 31 December 2020. 


For a quick overview on these data records as provided in the D&V cube, refer to: 

For further information, please refer to: