Evaporation in Average Year

Maps for each month use a 15 year average (1985-1999) to show what average annual evaporation is like.

The rate at which evaporation takes place is influenced by temperature, sunshine, wind and the humidity of the air – with temperature and sunshine being the most important. Consequently season and climate zones mean different areas of the globe are experiencing different evaporation rates over the period of a year.

During the summer months (June/July/August in N. Hemisphere and Dec./Jan./Feb. in S. Hemisphere) the high energy input from solar radiation mean that higher evaporation rates than in the winter months are recorded.

Some areas of the globe experience low evaporation rates year round because of low water content in the soil. For example, the Sahara desert has low evaporation because of dry conditions, despite the high solar radiation. However, it is interesting to observe the Nile River up to the Aswan dam with its constant available water shows higher evaporation than the surrounding desert area.

  1. Average evaporation for Jan
  2. Average evaporation for Feb
  3. Average evaporation for Mar
  4. Average evaporation for Apr
  5. Average evaporation for May
  6. Average evaporation for Jun
  7. Average evaporation for Jul
  8. Average evaporation for Aug
  9. Average evaporation for Sep
  10. Average evaporation for Oct
  11. Average evaporation for Nov
  12. Average evaporation for Dec
  1. Map of average evaporation for January 1985 - 1999

    Low temperatures and sunshine in Northern hemisphere means little evaporation occurs here

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  2. Map of average evaporation for February 1985 - 1999

    Low temperatures and sunshine in Northern hemisphere means little evaporation occurs here

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  3. Map of average evaporation for March 1985 - 1999

    Low temperatures and sunshine in Northern hemisphere means little evaporation occurs here

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  4. Map of average evaporation for April 1985 - 1999

    Temperate areas show increased evaporation coinciding with increasing temperatures over ground moistened by winter rains.

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  5. Map of average evaporation for May 1985 - 1999

    Temperate areas show increased evaporation coinciding with increasing temperatures over ground moistened by winter rains.

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  6. Map of average evaporation for June 1985 - 1999

    Temperate areas show increased evaporation coinciding with increasing temperatures over ground moistened by winter rains.

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  7. Map of average evaporation for July 1985 - 1999

    Cooler winter temperatures in Southern hemisphere reduces evaporation

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  8. Map of average evaporation for August 1985 - 1999

    Cooler winter temperatures in Southern hemisphere reduces evaporation

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  9. Map of average evaporation for September 1985 - 1999

    Dry desert areas are clearly visible: Namib, Sahara, Gobi, Atacana, Mojave

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  10. Map of average evaporation for October 1985 - 1999

    Nile river visible flowing northwards through Sahara desert up to the Aswan dam reservoir.

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  11. Map of average evaporation for November 1985 - 1999

    Nile river visible flowing northwards through Sahara desert up to the Aswan dam reservoir.

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  12. Map of average evaporation for December 1985 - 1999

    Nile river visible flowing northwards through Sahara desert up to the Aswan dam reservoir.

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Google Earth View

Evaporation Legend (mm/month)

Bargraph referencing the colours on the evaporation maps.

Other Maps

  • Rainfall
  • Freshwater
  • Land

Evaporation Maps

Maps for Individual months

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December