# 2:2.3 Actual Evapotranspiration Once total potential evapotranspiration is determined, actual evaporation must be calculated. SWAT+ first evaporates any rainfall intercepted by the plant canopy. Next, SWAT+ calculates the maximum amount of transpiration and the maximum amount of sublimation/soil evaporation using an approach similar to that of Ritchie (1972). The actual amount of sublimation and evaporation from the soil is then calculated. If snow is present in the HRU, sublimation will occur. Only when no snow is present will evaporation from the soil take place. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://swatplus.gitbook.io/io-docs/theoretical-documentation/section-2-hydrology/chapter-2-2-evapotranspiration/2-2.3-actual-evapotranspiration.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.