Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-8-2025
Abstract
In water-scarce regions, natural ecosystems and agriculture increasingly compete for limited water resources, intensifying stress during periods of drought. To assess these competing demands, we applied a modified PT-JPL model that incorporates the thermal inertial approach as a substitute for relative humidity (RH) in estimating soil evaporation—a method that significantly outperforms the original PT-JPL formulation in Mediterranean semi-arid irrigated areas. This remote sensing framework enabled us to quantify spatial and temporal variations in water use across both natural and agricultural systems within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Doñana. Our analysis revealed an increasing evapotranspiration (ET) trend in intensified agricultural areas and rice fields surrounding the National Park (R = 0.3), contrasted by a strong negative ET trend in wetlands (R < −0.5). These opposing patterns suggest a growing diversion of water toward irrigation at the expense of natural ecosystems. The impact was especially marked during droughts, such as the 2011–2016 period, when precipitation declined by 16%. In wetlands, ET was significantly correlated with precipitation (R > 0.4), highlighting their vulnerability to reduced water inputs. These findings offer crucial insights to support sustainable water management strategies that balance agricultural productivity with the preservation of ecologically valuable systems under mounting climatic and anthropogenic pressures typical of semi-arid Mediterranean environments.
Recommended Citation
Moyano, M.C.; Garcia, M.; Juana, L.; Recuero, L.; Tornos, L.; Fisher, J.B.; Fernández, N.; Palacios-Orueta, A. Remote Sensing-Based Assessment of Evapotranspiration Patterns in a UNESCO World Heritage Site Under Increasing Water Competition. Remote Sens. 2025, 17, 2339. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17142339
Copyright
The authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Hydrology Commons, Remote Sensing Commons, Soil Science Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in Remote Sensing, volume 17, issue 14, in 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17142339