This parameter is a measure of the extent to which near-surface atmospheric conditions are conducive to the process of evaporation. It is usually considered to be the amount of evaporation, under existing atmospheric conditions, from a surface of pure water which has the temperature of the lowest layer of the atmosphere and gives an indication of the maximum possible evaporation.

Potential evaporation in the current ECMWF Integrated Forecasting System is based on surface energy balance calculations with the vegetation parameters set to 'crops/mixed farming' and assuming 'no stress from soil moisture'. In other words, evaporation is computed for agricultural land as if it is well watered and assuming that the atmosphere is not affected by this artificial surface condition. The latter may not always be realistic. Although potential evaporation is meant to provide an estimate of irrigation requirements, the method can give unrealistic results in arid conditions due to too strong evaporation forced by dry air.