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Title: EVALUATION OF THE GLUGLA METHOD FOR ESTIMATING EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND GROUND-WATER RECHARGE

Author
item Bonta, James - Jim
item MULLER, MIKE - DRESDEN GW RES CENTER

Submitted to: Hydrological Sciences Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Estimates of water reaching ground water through the soil are needed for a variety of ground-water resource evaluation purposes, and are difficult values to estimate. A ground-water recharge estimation method developed in the former East Germany by a researcher named Glugla in the 1960's and 1970's is apparently unknown in the U.S., due to the political situation in nthat country at the time. The "Glugla method" is presented along with an evaluation of the method using measured lysimeter data at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed at Coshocton, Ohio. Based on the analyses, the Glugla method works well considering the coarse climatological, soil, and crop inputs that are required. The method should be evaluated for more agricultural conditions than the meadow conditions evaluated in this study. Glugla used data from around the world, so the method has promise for widespread applicability. Consulting engineers, ground-water consultants, government agencies, and other hydrologic practitioners will benefit from having this method available to them.

Technical Abstract: Estimates of ground-water recharge are often needed for a variety of ground-water-resource evaluation purposes. A method for estimating long-term ground-water recharge and actual evapotranspiration not known in the English literature is presented. The method uses long-term average annual precipitation, runoff, potential evaporation, and crop-yield information, and uses empirical parameter curves that depend on soil and crop types to determine ground-water recharge (GWR). It can be used to distribute ground-water recharge estimates spatially. The method is tested using historic lysimeter records from 10 lysimeters at Coshocton, Ohio. Considering the gross information required, the method provides good estimates of ground-water recharge and actual evapotranspiration, and is sensitive to a range of cropping and land-use conditions. Problems with practical application of the technique are mentioned, including the need for further testing using given parameter curves, and for incorporating parameters that describe current farming practices and other land uses.