 The study presents monthly global land evapotranspiration, ET, synthesis products based on satellite and or in situ observations or land surface models driven with atmospheric re-analyses. The merged synthesis products for the shorter period of 1989 to 1995 are based on 40 distinct datasets, while those for the longer period of 1989 to 2005 are based on 14 datasets. The study provides statistics for four merged synthesis products and shows that multi-annual variations in ET display realistic responses to changes in precipitation and other factors. The global mean ET from the merged synthesis products is estimated to be 493 mmHg-1, 1.35 mmD-1 for both time periods, which is relatively low compared to previously published estimates. The study also estimates global runoff to be 263 mmHg-1, 34406 kmHg-1 for a total land area of 130,922,000 km2. To reduce uncertainties in current ET products, the study suggests improving the accuracy of input variables, especially precipitation, as well as the parameterizations of ET. This article was authored by B. Muller, M. Hershey, C. Jimenez, and others. We are article.tv, links in the description below.