Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography

Rainfall estimates using the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) dataset constitute a promising complement to rain gauge networks in areas with fewer stations. To determine their usefulness in practical application, these estimates must be validated and the performance...

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Main Authors: Heli A. Arregocés, Roberto Rojano, Jhonny Pérez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016423001573
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author Heli A. Arregocés
Roberto Rojano
Jhonny Pérez
author_facet Heli A. Arregocés
Roberto Rojano
Jhonny Pérez
author_sort Heli A. Arregocés
collection DOAJ
description Rainfall estimates using the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) dataset constitute a promising complement to rain gauge networks in areas with fewer stations. To determine their usefulness in practical application, these estimates must be validated and the performance of CHIRPS must be accurately determined. In this study, CHIRPS datasets were validated for a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography in northern Colombia near the Caribbean Sea. This region presents a complex topography, posing significant challenges for retrieval of rainfall data using remote sensing. Daily, monthly, and annual estimates using CHIRPS were compared with records from 37 rain gauges between 1981 and 2020. Continuous and categorical statistical metrics were applied to evaluate performance in estimating and detecting rainfall by analyzing topographic and climatic constraints. CHIRPS performed best at monthly and annual scales (r > 0.79, NRMSE<1.25, POD>0.87, and FAR<0.36). On daily timescale, its performance tended to be poor to moderate in all rain gauge areas (r < 0.24, NRMSE>5.13, POD>0.39, and FAR<0.84), particularly in coastal regions from January to March. However, during the most intense periods of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cold phase, the daily timescale performance of CHIRPS improved (NRMSE>3.47, POD>0.45, and FAR<0.64). Overall, it successfully represented spatiotemporal coverage of monthly rainfall averages and is a valuable source of monthly rainfall data making it useful for hydrometeorological modeling in complex topographies with coastal influence.
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spelling doaj.art-d2bbd273d9734e9da7c41804992d11202023-11-30T05:11:04ZengElsevierCase Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering2666-01642023-12-018100452Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topographyHeli A. Arregocés0Roberto Rojano1Jhonny Pérez2Grupo de Investigación GISA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La Guajira, Riohacha, Colombia; Grupo Procesos Fisicoquímicos Aplicados, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia SIU/UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52–21, Medellín, Colombia; Corresponding author. Grupo de Investigación GISA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La Guajira, Riohacha, Colombia.Grupo de Investigación GISA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La Guajira, Riohacha, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación GISA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de La Guajira, Riohacha, ColombiaRainfall estimates using the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) dataset constitute a promising complement to rain gauge networks in areas with fewer stations. To determine their usefulness in practical application, these estimates must be validated and the performance of CHIRPS must be accurately determined. In this study, CHIRPS datasets were validated for a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography in northern Colombia near the Caribbean Sea. This region presents a complex topography, posing significant challenges for retrieval of rainfall data using remote sensing. Daily, monthly, and annual estimates using CHIRPS were compared with records from 37 rain gauges between 1981 and 2020. Continuous and categorical statistical metrics were applied to evaluate performance in estimating and detecting rainfall by analyzing topographic and climatic constraints. CHIRPS performed best at monthly and annual scales (r > 0.79, NRMSE<1.25, POD>0.87, and FAR<0.36). On daily timescale, its performance tended to be poor to moderate in all rain gauge areas (r < 0.24, NRMSE>5.13, POD>0.39, and FAR<0.84), particularly in coastal regions from January to March. However, during the most intense periods of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cold phase, the daily timescale performance of CHIRPS improved (NRMSE>3.47, POD>0.45, and FAR<0.64). Overall, it successfully represented spatiotemporal coverage of monthly rainfall averages and is a valuable source of monthly rainfall data making it useful for hydrometeorological modeling in complex topographies with coastal influence.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016423001573Rain gaugeCHIRPSSatellite-based precipitationComplex topography
spellingShingle Heli A. Arregocés
Roberto Rojano
Jhonny Pérez
Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Rain gauge
CHIRPS
Satellite-based precipitation
Complex topography
title Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
title_full Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
title_fullStr Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
title_full_unstemmed Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
title_short Validation of the CHIRPS dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
title_sort validation of the chirps dataset in a coastal region with extensive plains and complex topography
topic Rain gauge
CHIRPS
Satellite-based precipitation
Complex topography
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016423001573
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AT robertorojano validationofthechirpsdatasetinacoastalregionwithextensiveplainsandcomplextopography
AT jhonnyperez validationofthechirpsdatasetinacoastalregionwithextensiveplainsandcomplextopography