HS Cal software for the calibration of the Hargreaves-Samani equation

Abstract: The objective of this work was to develop a software (HS Cal) to calibrate the Hargreaves-Samani equation for specific periods of the year, in global, seasonal, and monthly time scales, as well as to compare the performance of calibrated and non-calibrated equations. The software was developed in order to use raw data provided by Banco de Dados Meteorológicos para Ensino e Pesquisa (BDMEP). All calibrations outperformed the original Hargreaves-Samani equation, especially with the use of seasonal and monthly calibrations. The HS Cal software can easily calibrate the Hargreaves-Samani equation, allowing the identification of the best form of this equation for a given site.