Bias Adjustment of Four Satellite-Based Rainfall Products Using Ground-Based Measurements over Sudan

Abstract

Satellite-based rainfall estimates (SREs) represent a promising alternative dataset for climate and hydrological studies, where gauge observations are insufficient. However, these datasets are accompanied by significant uncertainties. Therefore, this study aims to minimize the systematic bias of Artificial Neural Networks–Cloud Classification System (PERSIANN-CCS), Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR), Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) rainfall estimates using a quantile mapping (QM) method with climatic zones (CZs). The adjusted rainfall estimates were evaluated for the period from 2003–2017; data from 2003 to 2016 were used for calibration, and data from 2017 were used for validation. The results revealed significant improvements for the adjusted PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-CDR, CHIRPS, and GPCP monthly time series in terms of all statistical measures and evaluation of overall CZs. In terms of Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs), the adjusted CHIRPS did not show an improvement. This method successfully removed the mean bias of the daily time series for all SREs. The findings suggest that this method can be applied to correct the systematic bias of all SREs in the monthly time series in the future without the need for further gauge measurements over Sudan.