Glossary
Priestley-Taylor Method
A radiation-driven simplification of the Penman approach that estimates evaporation from available energy using an empirical multiplier (commonly about 1.26), dropping the explicit wind/aerodynamic term.
Because it relies on energy (radiation) rather than wind and humidity, the Priestley-Taylor method works best for calm, well-watered open surfaces such as relatively still open lakes, and is less suited to windy, advection-dominated sites.