Monitoring evapotranspiration at landscape scale in Mexico: applying the energy balance model using remotely sensed data

Conceptual Elements and Heuristics from Complexity Paradigm Suitable to the Study of Evapotranspiration at the Landscape Level

“…These exercises are based on prior knowledge about the process in question and use conceptual and geographic representation models-especially if the linkage between structure and function needs to be incorporated. Examples of this approach are complex object-based models and the geospatial pattern discovery (Parrott, 2009;Maceachren et al, 1999;Coronel, 2008). Bottom-up modeling is based on a phenomenological strategy, or driven by phenomena; in which logical and geocomputational models inherit the behavior of observed or simulated processes.…”

“…Therefore, the use of cartographic contexts and models to assist learning and developing knowledge about the organizing principles of a landscape-as in the communication processes for geocybernetics and cybercartography-can benefit the adaptation and development of social knowledge networks . In order to progress toward the spatial-temporal representation of evapotranspiration systems, it is suggested that geospatial patterns discovery be applied in order to show the validity of certain heuristics, such as emergences, convergences, panarchies and adaptive cycles (Haggett, 1965;Coronel, 2008). Examples of this are applications of said process for discovering patterns in order to demonstrate the emergence of seasonal spatial-temporal structures in dt shown below in the figure 5.…”

“…With regard to a methodological proposal, some authors consider the integration of upward, downward approximations-although without theoretically offering a solutionand the definition of elemental units for the development of a classification scheme that supports the principles of scaling and based in functional aspects (Sivapalan, 2005;Schröder, 2006). Out of spatial modeling and Geomatics arise pattern discovery and the conceptualization of the geographic entities or components of a system, a methodological element indispensable to the development of classification and schemes of hierarchies in geographic processes (Haggett, 1965;Maceachren et al, 1999;Coronel, 2008). With the functional traits perspective, the social, cultural and economic nature of the managed areas or case studies is not made explicit, and although the definition of elemental units of analysis is recognized, it is not advanced in the conceptualization of hydrologic processes as the functioning of systems with complex behavior.…”

“…Function refers to the resulting response, or functioning, of a complete system based on its importance to maintaining the system itself. Besides these 3 basic elements, some additional elements that are suggested are simple fallible models and the science of place, or the temporal-spatial paradigm (McDonnell et al, 2007;Coronel, 2008). A large part of what underlies these proposals to develop a catchment hydrologic theory is learning from simulated experimentation, such as in the functional traits approach and the more applied approach of the science of complexity through analogical models.…”

“…There are important works that explore a similar strategy in a variety of hydrologic processes and highlight the importance of its adaptation. Among those are the nature of the heterogeneity of the earth's surface that drives the run-off networks and rain fields, applying the heuristics of self-organization and self-similarity (Gorenburg et al, 2001;Veitzer & Gupta, 2001), the temporal spatial variability associated with the process of evapotranspiration, and identifying diverse control factors in relevant scales and patterns Katul et al, 2001;Mahrt et al, 2001;Coronel et al, 2008). Terrestrial memory processes that are fundamental to long-term water balance are identified, among them vegetation and soil adjustments that relate energy and water balances and nutrient cycling (Post & Jones, 2001;Mackay, 2001;Coronel & Mora, 2008a;Coronel & Mora, 2008b).…”