The Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations, Version 3

Area of Science:

• Hydrology and Climate Science
• Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis
• Atmospheric Science

Background:

• The Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) dataset is crucial for various applications, including drought monitoring and agricultural decision-making.
• CHIRPS version 2 (CHIRPS2) has been widely used, but improvements in data processing and sources are needed.
• Accurate precipitation data is essential for understanding climate variability and its impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of the new CHIRPS version 3 (CHIRPS3) satellite precipitation data.
• To compare CHIRPS3 with CHIRPS2 and other satellite precipitation products (IMERG, PERSIANN-CCS, GPI).
• To demonstrate the benefits of CHIRPS3, including extended spatial coverage and improved estimation methods.

Main Methods:

• Performance evaluation of CHIRPS3, CHIRPS2, IMERG, PERSIANN-CCS, and GPI using high-quality, dense station data in twelve regions.
• Assessment of precipitation mean and variance representation.
• Case study in Morocco to illustrate CHIRPS3's rainfall variability capture and the importance of gauge-undercatch correction.

Main Results:

• CHIRPS3 demonstrates superior performance compared to CHIRPS2, accurately representing both the mean and variance of observed precipitation.
• CHIRPS3 captures observed rainfall variability more effectively than CHIRPS2, as shown in the Morocco case study.
• The study highlights the necessity of gauge-undercatch correction for station data when validating satellite precipitation products like CHIRPS3.

Conclusions:

• CHIRPS3 represents a significant advancement over CHIRPS2, offering more accurate and reliable precipitation estimates.
• The improved accuracy of CHIRPS3 enhances its utility for critical applications such as drought monitoring, hydrologic modeling, and agricultural planning.
• Proper data validation methodologies, including gauge-undercatch correction, are essential for maximizing the benefits of advanced satellite precipitation products.