Urban evapotranspiration and its effects on water budget and energy balance: Review and perspectives

Urban evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important components of water and energy balance, and carbon cycle in urbans. It is also a natural process that is powerful enough to possibly mitigate the negative effects caused by urbanization and global warming. Increasing or regulating urban ET could possibly be a solution to overcome the negative impacts caused by urbanization and global warming. Since 2000, researches on urban ET have been increasing and significant progresses have been achieved. A review of these progresses will certainly further promote the related researches and social practices, however, there is yet no such a review article available. Therefore, this article reviewed almost all the published papers on urban ET over the world, summarized its current progresses, scientific understandings, and forecasted the possible challenges in the future. Results achieved from this review would be helpful to use the power of ET to improve the livability of cities, guide the practices of sponge city construction and low impact development, mitigate the negative effect of urban heat island, and reduce urban carbon emission.