Sprinkler Drift & Evaporation & What Never Lands
Estimates wind loss
Enter wind speed, temperature, humidity and riser height to estimate the percentage lost to wind drift and evaporation, and the depth that actually lands on your soil.
Sprinkler conditions
Next: expect only 21.6 mm of your 25 mm to reach the crop; irrigate in the calm early morning or evening and lower the nozzle to cut the 13.5% loss.
Loss is an estimate from wind, heat and nozzle height; actual figures depend on droplet size, humidity and pressure. High wind also distorts the wetting pattern, hurting uniformity.
Sprinkler losses — key facts
- Loss
- wind drift + evaporation
- Effective depth
- applied − loss
- Biggest driver
- wind speed
- Worse in
- hot, dry, windy weather
- High risers
- throw higher → more loss
- Best time
- calm, cool morning
- Sprinkler efficiency
- ≈ 75%
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Not all the water you pump reaches the soil
Every time a sprinkler runs in wind and heat, a slice of the water disappears before it ever touches the ground. Fine droplets blow off-target on the breeze, and others evaporate in mid-air on hot, dry days — the higher the riser throws them, the more is lost. On a hot, windy afternoon this wind drift and evaporation loss can swallow a quarter or more of what you pump, leaving the crop short even though the meter says you applied plenty.
This tool combines wind, temperature, humidity and riser height into an estimated loss percentage and the effective depth that actually lands, so you can schedule on what the crop really receives. Use it to choose calmer hours, lower risers and bigger droplets — and pair it with the Sprinkler System, Uniformity and Irrigation Efficiency tools to tighten your whole system.
See the hidden loss
How much never reaches the soil.
Schedule on reality
Effective depth, not just applied depth.
Pick better hours
See how calm, cool timing cuts loss.
Tune the system
Test riser height and weather effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wind drift and evaporation loss?+
Wind drift and evaporation loss (WDEL) is the share of sprinkler water that never reaches the soil — fine droplets blow away on the wind or evaporate in mid-air before landing. It is highest in hot, dry, windy weather and from tall risers that throw water high, and it directly lowers how much of your applied water the crop actually receives.
How is the loss percentage estimated?+
The loss rises with wind speed, air temperature and the height the water is thrown, and falls with humidity. This tool combines those drivers into an estimated loss percentage, then computes the effective depth — the part that lands on the soil — from the depth you applied. It is a planning estimate, not a lab measurement.
Why is wind the biggest factor?+
Wind shears the spray into fine droplets and carries them off-target, so even a moderate breeze can sharply increase loss and unevenness. Loss climbs steeply above roughly 3–4 m/s, which is why irrigating in calm conditions — early morning or evening — saves the most water.
How does riser height affect loss?+
Higher risers throw water further up and out, giving droplets more time aloft to evaporate and more exposure to wind. Lowering the riser, or using low-pressure or low-angle nozzles, keeps droplets larger and closer to the ground, cutting both drift and evaporation.
What is the effective depth?+
The effective depth is the water that actually reaches the soil: applied depth minus the drift and evaporation loss. If you apply 10 mm and lose 18%, only about 8.2 mm reaches the crop. Scheduling on the applied depth without allowing for loss leaves the crop short, so the effective depth is what you should match to the crop need.
How can I reduce sprinkler losses?+
Irrigate in calm, cool parts of the day; use larger droplets via lower pressure or appropriate nozzles; lower the riser or use drop tubes; and avoid running in strong wind. Switching to low-energy precision application or drip removes most drift and evaporation loss entirely.
Does humidity really matter?+
Yes — dry air evaporates droplets far faster than humid air, so the same wind and temperature cause much higher loss on a low-humidity day. Hot, dry, windy afternoons are the worst combination; cool, humid, still mornings are the best for application efficiency.
How big can the loss get?+
In calm, humid conditions loss may be only a few percent, but in hot, dry, windy weather with high risers it can exceed 20–30% of the applied water. That is why this loss is a major reason field application efficiency for sprinklers is often quoted around 75%.
Is this estimate exact for my system?+
It is a sound planning figure based on the main drivers, but real loss also depends on nozzle type, pressure, droplet size and local conditions. Verify with catch cans in the field if you need precise numbers, and adjust your scheduling to match what actually lands.