*2.7. Statistical Analysis*

Statistical comparisons were performed including multiple statistical coefficients, including the coefficient of determination (*R2*), regression line slope and intercept, root mean square error (*RMSE*), percent of root mean square error (% *RMSE* error), mean bias error (*MBE*), and Nash Sutcliff efficiency (*NSE*), between the measured and the calculated satellite-based ET. A detailed description of each coefficient and its range and interpretation of values were provided [38,41,47]. The mean bias error (*MBE*) and % *MBE* provided a means to determine the deviation between the measured and satellite-based estimates, with *MBE* = 0 indicating no bias in the estimation within the satellite data. The *MBE* and % *MBE* were calculated using Equations (3) and (4), respectively.

$$MBE = \frac{\sum\_{i=1}^{n} \left( y\_t - \hat{y}\_t \right)}{n} \tag{3}$$

where *yt* = the *i*th measured value, *y*ˆ*<sup>t</sup>* = the *i*th simulated value, and *n* = the total number of observations.

$$\%MBE = \frac{MBE}{\overline{\chi}\_{\text{obs}}} \times 100\tag{4}$$

where *xobs* is mean of measured values.
