Assignment No.

7
Evaporation measurement by Pan Evaporimeter

Definition: Evaporation is the process in which a liquid changes to the gaseous state at the free
surface, below the boiling point through the transfer of heat energy.

Estimation of evaporation is important for planning and operation of reservoirs and irrigation
systems. The amount of water evaporated from a water Surface is estimated by the Following
methods:
(i) Pan evaporimeter measurement method
(ii) Empirical evaporation equations and
(iii) Analytical methods

Pan measurement method:

Depth of water evaporated from pan of given area in given time interval is measured with
micrometer. Rate of evaporation multiplied by pan coefficient gives evaporation rate of water
body.

Types of Evaporimeters:
1. U.S. Weather Bureau Class-A Evaporation Pan:
It is standard pan of 1210 mm diameter and 255 mm depth.
Depth of water is kept 50 mm below top at fixed level.
Pan is made from unpainted galvanised iron sheet.
Pan is placed on wooden platform, 150 mm above ground.
Depth of water evaporated is measured with help of hook gauge in stilling well

Fig. Class-A Evaporation Pan

2. Colorado Sunken Pan:

It is 920 mm square and 460 mm deep pan made from unpainted galvanised iron sheet and
buried in ground. Its main advantage is that radiation and aerodynamic properties are similar to
those of a lake.
 Fig. Colorado Sunken Pan

3. US Geological Survey Floating Pan

Square pan 900 mm side and 450 mm depth supported by drum floats in the middle of a raft
(4.25 m x 4.87 m) is set a float in a lake.
The water level in the pan is kept at the same level as the lake leaving a rim of 75 mm.

4. ISI Standard Pan:

This pan evaporimeter is specified by IS 5973:1970
Also called Modified Class A pan
It consists of 1220 mm diameter pan with 255 mm depth. Pan is made of copper sheet, tinned
inside and painted white outside.
Pan is placed on wooden platform, 100 mm above ground.
Evaporation rate is 14% less than class A pan (i.e. unscreened pan)
Hexagonal wire netting of galvanised iron is used to protect water from birds and to maintain
uniform water temperature during day and night.

Fig. ISI standard Pan

Pan Coefficient:
It is used to relate pan evaporation with lake evaporation under similar climatic and exposure
conditions.
Lake evaporation = Cp X Pan evaporation
Where,
Cp = Pan Coefficient
 Table No. 1. Values of Pan Coefficient, Cp
Sr. No. Type of Pan Range Average value
1 Class A pan 0.60-0.80 0.70
2 Colorado Sunken pan 0.75-0.86 0.78
3 USWB floating pan 0.70-0.82 0.80
4 ISI pan 0.65-1.10 0.80

Evaporation Stations
The WMO recommends the minimum network of evaporimeter stations as below.
1. Arid zones – one station for every 30,000 Km2
2. Humid temperate climates – one station for every 50,000 Km2, and
3. Cold regions – one station for every 100,000 Km2.

Evaporation measurement:
The evaporation pan of is made of stainless steel and has the dimensions of a “class A”
evaporation pan, namely 250 mm in height and 1207 mm in diameter. The evaporation pan is
installed on the wooden support, which is set and levelled on the ground in a grassy location,
away from bushes, trees and other obstacles which obstruct a natural air flow around the pan,
thus representing open water in an open area.

Fig. Class A evaporation pan

Daily the result of evaporation and precipitation is measured within the still well, by means of a
high quality evaporation micrometer with a measuring range of 100 mm and an accuracy of 0.02
mm. This accuracy can be obtained because the still well prevents rippling of the water surface.

The amount of evaporation is a function of temperature, humidity, wind and other ambient
conditions. In order to relate the evaporation to wind current or expected conditions, the
maximum and minimum temperature as well as the amount of air passed are recorded with the
evaporation.
 Measuring procedure:
 The pan is installed in the field
 The pan is filled with a known quantity of water (the surface area of the pan is known and the
water depth is measured)
 The water is allowed to evaporate during a certain period of time (usually 24 hours). For
example, each morning at 7 o’clock a measurement is taken. The rainfall, if any, is measured
simultaneously
 After 24 hours, the remaining quantity of water (i.e. water depth) is measured
 The amount of evaporation per time unit (the difference between the two measured water
depths) is calculated; this is the pan evaporation: E pan (in mm/24 hours)

Example:
Type of pan: Class A evaporation pan
Water depth in pan on day 1 = 150 mm
Water depth in pan on day 2 = 144 mm (after 24 hours)
Rainfall (during 24 hours) = 0 mm
C p = 0.70
Solution:
Evaporation = E pan = 150 - 144 = 6 mm/day
Lake Evaporation = Cp × Epan
= 0.70 × 6 =4.2 mm/day