A comprehensive evaluation of the accuracy of satellite-based precipitation estimates over Thailand
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Study region: Fifteen Satellite-based Precipitation Estimate (SPE) products from TRMM, GPM IMERG, CHIRP, CMORPH, and PERSIANN families, covering 2001-2015, were evaluated using data from 1,779 raingauge stations in Thailand.Study focus: SPEs are commonly evaluated using ground measurement, yet their evaluation has not been sufficiently studied over Thailand. This study assessed the performance of fifteen SPE products using gauged rainfall measurements that underwent fourteen quality control steps. Various statistical indicators ranked fifteen candidates with normalized scores, revealing performance differences across regions and products. This analysis helps identify the most suitable products for specific objectives. It also evaluated SPE performance across elevation changes, rainfall extremes, and data-scarce conditions by gradually reducing the amount of gauged rainfall data used.New hydrological insights for the region under study: Bias correction improved the performance of all SPEs, and accuracy gains were still achievable even with reduced gauged rainfall data in the GGR dataset. The results suggest that the effectiveness of SPE products depends more on proper bias correction and high-quality gauged data than on the specific SPE products used. While elevation did not have a significant influence on the accuracy, all SPEs were found to be missing on the precipitation extremes. The ensemble of multiple SPEs reduced individual errors and achieved 82% accuracy, demonstrating their reliability in representing precipitation in Thailand and the advantages of a weighted approach.
Institutions: Kasetsart University, UNSW Sydney
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,600
OpenAlex ID: W4409624250