{"title":"Applicability of CHIRPS-based satellite rainfall estimates for South Africa","authors":"J. A. Du Plessis, J. K. Kibii","doi":"10.17159/2309-8775/2021/v63n3a4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Long-term rainfall data with good spatial and temporal distribution is essential for all climate-related analyses. The availability of observed rainfall data has become increasingly problematic over the years due to a limited and deteriorating rainfall station network, occasioned by limited reporting and/or quality control of rainfall and, in some cases, closure of these stations. Remotely sensed satellite-based rainfall data sets offer an alternative source of information. In this study, daily and monthly rainfall data derived from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) is compared with observed rainfall data from 46 stations evenly distributed across South Africa. Various metrics, based on a pairwise comparison between the observed and CHIRPS data, were applied to evaluate CHIRPS performance in the estimation of daily and monthly rainfall. The results show that CHIRPS data correlate well with observed monthly rainfall data for all stations used, having an average coefficient of determination of 0.6 and bias of 0.95. This study concludes that monthly CHIRPS data corresponds well, with good precision and relatively little bias when compared to observed monthly rainfall data, and can therefore be considered for use in conjunction with observed rainfall data where no or limited data is available in South Africa for hydrological analysis.","PeriodicalId":54762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2021-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"8","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.17159/2309-8775/2021/v63n3a4","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CIVIL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 8
Abstract
Long-term rainfall data with good spatial and temporal distribution is essential for all climate-related analyses. The availability of observed rainfall data has become increasingly problematic over the years due to a limited and deteriorating rainfall station network, occasioned by limited reporting and/or quality control of rainfall and, in some cases, closure of these stations. Remotely sensed satellite-based rainfall data sets offer an alternative source of information. In this study, daily and monthly rainfall data derived from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) is compared with observed rainfall data from 46 stations evenly distributed across South Africa. Various metrics, based on a pairwise comparison between the observed and CHIRPS data, were applied to evaluate CHIRPS performance in the estimation of daily and monthly rainfall. The results show that CHIRPS data correlate well with observed monthly rainfall data for all stations used, having an average coefficient of determination of 0.6 and bias of 0.95. This study concludes that monthly CHIRPS data corresponds well, with good precision and relatively little bias when compared to observed monthly rainfall data, and can therefore be considered for use in conjunction with observed rainfall data where no or limited data is available in South Africa for hydrological analysis.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering publishes peer reviewed papers on all aspects of Civil Engineering relevant to Africa. It is an open access, ISI accredited journal, providing authoritative information not only on current developments, but also – through its back issues – giving access to data on established practices and the construction of existing infrastructure. It is published quarterly and is controlled by a Journal Editorial Panel.
The forerunner of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering was established in 1903 as a learned society aiming to develop technology and to share knowledge for the development of the day. The minutes of the proceedings of the then Cape Society of Civil Engineers mainly contained technical papers presented at the Society''s meetings. Since then, and throughout its long history, during which time it has undergone several name changes, the organisation has continued to publish technical papers in its monthly publication (magazine), until 1993 when it created a separate journal for the publication of technical papers.