Evaporation from Bare Soils

Evaporation from bare soils is ruled by the same weather factors as those involved in evaporation from open water surfaces. However, although the quantity of available water is not a limiting factor for open water surfaces, it is definitely a factor for bare soils. Evaporation from bare soil is influenced partly by the evaporative demand, but also by the capacity of the soil to respond to this demand and to convey water towards the surface, which is a function of various factors:

Soil Moisture Content

The moisture content of the soil affects the evaporation process. The drier the soil, the less flow is evaporated. The reverse is also true; water-logged soil can evaporate water at an even higher rate than open water, because the micro-relief of the ground forms a larger evaporating surface than a lake or reservoir.