Description
Subtract potentialEt from precipitation for climaticBalance.
Precipitation and evaporation records distinguish water depth, catchment area, volume, and observation duration. Converting among them requires coherent units and a clear measured or modeled basis.
Subtract potentialEt from precipitation for climaticBalance.
When to use this tool
Use Hydroclimatic Water Deficit One Month Term when you need one explicit water-depth, volume, or accumulation component.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter precipitation, potentialEt, openingStorage, storageCapacity. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read climaticBalance, closingStorage, unmetPotentialEt, overflow. Use the output convention below.
Subtract potentialEt from precipitation for climaticBalance. Add that balance to openingStorage, clip storage to [0, storageCapacity], and separately report unmetPotentialEt and overflow.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| precipitation | Precipitation | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| potentialEt | Potential Et | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| openingStorage | Opening Storage | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| storageCapacity | Storage Capacity | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| climaticBalance | Climatic Balance | Required. Finite number. |
| closingStorage | Closing Storage | Required. Finite number. |
| unmetPotentialEt | Unmet Potential Et | Required. Finite number. |
| overflow | Overflow | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"precipitation": 20,
"potentialEt": 50,
"openingStorage": 40,
"storageCapacity": 100
},
"output": {
"climaticBalance": -30,
"closingStorage": 10,
"unmetPotentialEt": 0,
"overflow": 0
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Inputs use one water-depth and monthly basis; opening storage must fit capacity. This simple bucket does not model within-month timing, runoff routing, groundwater, or actual evapotranspiration observations.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Check instrument records, unit conversions, temporal coverage, and a complete hydrologic model before interpreting runoff or water availability.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Water Balance Closure Residual
Subtract outflow and storageChange from inflow for residual.
- Catchment Rainfall Runoff Depth Residual
Return rainfall-runoff-evapotranspiration-storageChange in mm and runoff/rainfall.