Problem Set No.

3 Evaporation

1. Calculate the evaporation rate from an open source, if the net radiation is 300 W/m2 and the air
temperature is 30°C. Assume value of zero for sensible heat, ground heat flux, and heat stored in water
body and advected energy. The density of water at 30°C = 996 kg/m3.
Hint: Calculate latent heat of vaporization L by the formula:
L = 2501 – 2.37T (kJ/kg), where T = temperature in °C
Ans. 10.7 mm/day
Solution:
T = 30°C
L = 2501 – 2.37(30°C)
L = 2429.9 kJ/kg
Rn = LE + H + G
300 𝑊/𝑚3 86400 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝑚
E= ( )( )
2429.9x103 kJ/kg(996kg/𝑚3 ) 1 day 1m
E = 10.7099 mm/day

2. A class A pan was set up adjacent to a lake. The depth of water in the pan at the beginning of a
certain week was 195 mm. In that week there was a rainfall of 45 mm and 15 mm of water was removed
from the pan to keep the water level within the specified depth range. If the depth of the water in the pan
at the end of the week was 190 mm calculate the pan evaporation. Using suitable pan coefficient
estimate the lake evaporation in that week.
Ans. 24.5 mm
Solution:
Pan Coefficient = 0.70 (class A pan)
El = 195 + 45 – 15 – 190 = 35 mm
Ep = 0.70 (35 mm)
Ep = 24.5 mm

3. A reservoir has an average area of 50 km2 over a year. The normal annual rainfall at the place is 120
cm and the class A pan evaporation is 240 cm. Assuming the land flooded by the reservoir has a runoff
coefficient of 0.4, estimate the net annual increase or decrease in the streamflow as a result of the
reservoir.
Ans. Decrease, 48 mm3
Solution:
Effective rainfall = 120 – (0.4 x 120) = 72 cm
Actual Evaporation = 240 – 72 = 168 cm or 1.68 m
Reservoir Level Decrease = 168 – 72 = 96 cm or 0.96 m
Streamflow Decrease = 50x106 x 0.96
Streamflow Decrease = 48x106 m3 or 48 mm3
4. At a reservoir in the neighborhoods of Delhi the following climatic data were observed. Estimate the
mean monthly and annual evaporation from the reservoir using Meyer’s formula.
.
Hint: Use e𝑤 = 4.584 𝒆 . 𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑔, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡 = 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 ℃

Month Temp (˚C) Relative Humidity (%) Wind velocity at 2m

above GL (km/h)
Jan 12.5 85 4.0
Feb 15.8 82 5.0
Mar 20.7 71 5.0
Apr 27.0 48 5.0
May 31.0 41 7.8
Jun 33.5 52 10.0
Jul 30.6 78 8.0
Aug 29.0 86 5.5
Sep 28.2 82 5.0
Oct 28.8 75 4.0
Nov 18.9 77 3.6
Dec 13.7 73 4.0
Ans. 175 mm/month

5. A reservoir had an average surface area of 20 km2 during June 1982. In that month the mean rate of
inflow = 10 m3/s, outflow = 15 m3/s, monthly rainfall = 10 cm and change in storage = 16 million m3.
Assuming seepage losses to be 1.8 cm, estimate the evaporation in that month.
Ans. 23.4 cm.
Solution:
10  24  30  60  60
Inflow = 10 m 3 / sec   1.296 m
20 106
Precipitation = 10 cm or 0.1 m
10  24  30  60  60
Outflow = 15m 3 /sec   1.944m
20 106
Surface Outflow = 1.8 cm or 0.018 m
16𝑥106
Storage = = 0.8 m
20𝑥106
Inflow + Precipitation = Outflow + Surface outflow + Change in storage + Evaporation
1.296 + 0.1 = 1.944 + 0.018 – 0.8 + E
E = 0.234 cm or 23.4 m