Journal article
Water balance analysis in Iowa using satellite-based evapotranspiration, precipitation, and streamflow data
Agricultural water management, Vol.322, 109977
12/20/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109977
Abstract
Understanding the water balance in intensively managed agricultural landscapes is critical for sustainable water resource management. This study utilizes publicly available satellite-based evapotranspiration, gridded precipitation, and in-situ streamflow data to conduct water balance analysis for Iowa from 2000 to 2023. The objectives of the study were to: 1) identify areas of groundwater-dependent evapotranspiration, 2) evaluate the Budyko framework for estimating annual runoff, and 3) quantify the impact of historical land cover change on watershed hydrology. Our analysis revealed that during dry years, annual evapotranspiration exceeded precipitation across nearly 36,260 km2 of cropland. Approximately, 20 % of this area is sustained by irrigation, and the remaining 30,000 km2 rely on natural subsidies like stored soil moisture, or shallow groundwater. For a selected watershed, we showed that the Budyko framework is a good proxy for observed annual runoff (R²=0.83). Finally, we quantified that the historical conversion from native prairie to corn and soybean cropland has increased average annual runoff by approximately 57 mm (23 %), a direct result of the lower evapotranspiration rates of annual row crops.
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•Gridded hydrological data application for groundwater-dependent evapotranspiration mapping.•Cropland cover, streamflow, evapotranspiration and precipitation interactions across Iowa.•Proposed approach for quantifying runoff on ungaged watersheds utilizing satellite-based evapotranspiration.•Historical land cover changes on watershed hydrology integrating the Budyko framework and gridded data.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Water balance analysis in Iowa using satellite-based evapotranspiration, precipitation, and streamflow data
- Creators
- Miguel Diaz - Iowa State UniversityAntonio Arenas - Iowa State UniversityKeith E. Schilling - University of IowaCalvin F. Wolter - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Agricultural water management, Vol.322, 109977
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109977
- ISSN
- 0378-3774
- eISSN
- 1873-2283
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- Iowa State University of Science and TechnologyUSGS Water Science
We gratefully acknowledge the support of Iowa State University of Science and Technology and the USGS Water Science in the execution of this study.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/20/2025
- Academic Unit
- IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
- Record Identifier
- 9985034935702771
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