Comprehensive Evaluation of Global Precipitation Products and Their Accuracy in Drought Detection in Mainland China

• DOI: 10.1175/jhm-d-22-0233.1
• Publication Date: 2023-08-07T11:12:43Z
• Authors: Huihui Zhang; Hugo A. Loaiciga; Qingyun Du; Tobias Sauter
• Keywords: Global Precipitation Measurement

Abstract Thorough evaluations of satellite precipitation products are necessary for accurately detecting meteorological drought. A comprehensive assessment 15 state-of-the-art (i.e., IMERG_cal, IMERG_uncal, GSMaP-G, CPC-Global, TRMM3B42, CMORPH-CRT, PERSIANN-CDR, PERSIANN, PERSIANN-CCS, SM2RAIN, CHIRPS, ERA5, ERA-Interim, MERRA-2, and GLDAS) is herein conducted the period 2010–19 giving special attention to their performance in drought over mainland China at 0.25° spatial resolution. The cited compared against China’s gridded gauge-based Daily Precipitation Analysis (CGDPA) product, derived from 2400 stations, quality assessed daily, seasonal, annual time scales. Meteorological droughts datasets determined by calculating standardized evapotranspiration index (SPEI). detection with respect SPEI three scales (1, 3, 12 months). results show that GSMaP-G outperforms other satellite-based estimation. MERRA-2 ERA5 on average closer CGDPA reference data than reanalysis estimation detection. These capture well temporal pattern southern eastern having a probability (POD) above 0.6 correlation coefficient (CC) 0.65. IMERG, product ideal candidates application western China, especially Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Xinjiang Province. Generally, accuracy improved longer SPEI-12). This study contributes drought-hazard hydrometeorological applications products. Significance Statement purpose this comprehensively evaluate global satellite-based, gauge-based, 1-, 3-, 12-month work systematically evaluates these products’ capacity occurrence intensity different seasons. followed comparison work’s findings evaluation will improve ability those who develop identifying error sources further improving retrieval algorithms. paper’s serve as valuable end users seeking better understand