Recenti sviluppi e prospettive per l’atmometro di Livingston: materiali intelligenti e regolazione adattativa dell’evaporazione

This paper introduces an adaptive atmometer designed to estimate actual evapotranspiration from vegetated surfaces under varying soil water availability. The system incorporates a water reservoir, a porous ceramic plate, an external Green Canvas fabric, and a thermo-responsive functional layer that adjusts vapour-flow resistance in accordance with soil water conditions. Regulation is governed by a water-stress function that transforms volumetric soil water content into an actuation temperature for the smart material. In non-limiting soil water content, the evaporating surface has low resistance; in deficit conditions, resistance increases and vapour flux diminishes. The theoretical findings suggest that the device can mimic stomatal responses and provide an estimate of actual crop water consumption that aligns more closely with passive atmometers. Discussions on thermal constraints, material requirements, and future advancements are also presented.