Evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation were measured during five summers (1989-1993 inclusive) at a subarctic forest site near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Mean daily ET varied from 2.14-3.18 mm d−1 during the five summers, while mean daily precipitation (P) ranged from 1.46-3.15 mm d−1. Yearly variability in summer ET was most influenced by availability of surface moisture, then by atmospheric conditions (i.e. temperature), and least of all by net radiation. In four of the five years total summer ET exceeded P resulting in significant soil water deficits and in the other year summer ET and P were similar in magnitude.
The use of equilibrium evaporation (EE) as a predictor of ET was explored. Separate relationships between ET and EE were computed for all five years. Three statistically dissimilar groups of equations were found: 1989/1990, 1991/ 1992, and 1993. A single regression equation describing all years is presented.
