Hydrology and Earth System Sciences www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net 1027-5606 1607-7938 12 4 2008 10.5194/hess-12-1129-2008 http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/12/1129/2008/ http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/12/1129/2008/hess-12-1129-2008.html http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/12/1129/2008/hess-12-1129-2008.pdf 1129 1139 2008-08-26 Satellite-based energy balance model to estimate seasonal evapotranspiration for irrigated sorghum: a case study from the Gezira scheme, Sudan M. A. Bashir bashir70us@yahoo.com T. Hata H. Tanakamaru A. W. Abdelhadi A. Tada Dept. of Food Systems and Field Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan Agricultural Research Corporation, P.O. Box 126, Wad Medani, Sudan The availability of the actual water use from agricultural crops is considered as the key factor for irrigation water management, water resources planning, and water allocation. Traditionally, evapotranspiration (ET) has been calculated in the Gezira scheme as the point of reference with evapotranspiration (ET_o) and crop coefficients (<i>k</i>_c) being derived from actual measurements of soil-water balance. Recently developed, advanced energy balance models assisted in estimating the ET through the remotely sensed data. In this study Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images were used to estimate the spatial distribution of the daily, monthly and seasonal ET for irrigated sorghum in the Gezira scheme, Sudan. The daily ET maps were also used to estimate <i>k</i>_c over time and space. Results of the energy balance, based on being remotely sensed, were compared to actual measurements conducted during 2004/05 season. The seasonal actual ET values, obtained from the seven MODIS images for irrigated sorghum, were estimated at 579 mm. 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