Zhan, G & Lin Shelp, M 2009, 'Modified Blaney-Criddle method — an empirical approach to estimate potential evaporation using air temperature', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2009: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 461-471, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/908_35
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/908_35_Zhan/)
Abstract: Potential evaporation (PE) or potential evapotranspiration (PET, ETo) is one of the fundamental elements in 
the hydrologic cycle. The Blaney-Criddle (B-C) method is the simplest approach for estimating PE as it 
requires only temperature data for input. It has been found that the B-C method can provide accurate 
estimates for moderate climates. Under extreme climatic conditions the B-C method is inaccurate.  
This paper presents a modification to the original B-C method which was calibrated to the observed 
meteorological data at Barrick sites. The modified method estimates PE with improved accuracy and is 
applicable to a wide range of climate conditions (from 300 mm/y in humid climates to 4,000 mm/y in arid 
climates) and wind regimes.  
The proposed approach will provide a simple and practical PE (PET) estimation tool for mining engineers 
and hydrologists when dealing with mine-wide water management during life-of-mine and closure planning.