Artificial neural network for modeling reference evapotranspiration complex process in Sudano-Sahelian zone

The major problem when dealing with modeling evapotranspiration process is its nonlinear dynamic high complexity. Researchers developed reference evapotranspiration (ET-ref) estimationmodels in rich and poor data situations. Thus, the well-known Penman–Monteith (PM) model always performs the highest accuracy results of ET-ref from a rich data situation. Its application in many areas particularly in developing countries such as Burkina Faso has been limited by the unavailability of the enormous climatic data required. In such circumstances, simple empirical Hargreaves (HARG) equation is often used despite of its non-universal suitability. The present study assesses the artificial neural network (ANN) performance in ET-ref modeling based on temperature data in Bobo-Dioulasso region, located in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. The models of feed forward backpropagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm type ANN and Hargreaves (HARG) were employed to study their performance by comparing with the true PM. From the statistical results, BPNN temperature-based models perform better thanHARG. Beside, whenwind speed is introduced into the neural networkmodels, the coefficient of determination (r) increases significantly up to 9.52%. While, sunshine duration and relative humidity might cause only 3.51 and 6.69% of difference, respectively. Wind is found to be the most effective variable extremely required for modeling with high accuracy the nonlinear complex process of ET-ref in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.