International Journal of Climatology, 2021,
41 (suppl. 1), E517-E536 ISSN 0899-8418
Numerous satellite-based precipitation datasets have been successively made available. Their precipitation estimates rely on clouds properties derived from microwave and thermal sensors in a so-named 'top-down' approach. Recently, a 'bottom-up' approach to infer precipitation from soil moisture (SM) estimates has resulted in the release of two new precipitation datasets (P-datasets). One uses satellite-based SM estimates from the European Spatial Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) (SM2RAIN-CCI) while the other uses satellite-based SM from European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) (SM2RAIN-ASCAT). This study assesses SM2RAIN-ASCAT and -CCI reliability over two arid regions: Bolivian and Peruvian Altiplano and Pakistan (South Asia) using (a) direct comparisons with rain gauges and (b) testing the sensitivity of streamflow modelling to the P-datasets. Selecting two different regions and different indicators helps to assess whether the P-dataset reliability varies depending on the assessment method and location. For comparison purposes, the most reliable P-datasets from the literature are also considered (IMERG-E v.6, IMERG-L v.6, IMERG-F v.6, CHIRPS v.2 and MSWEP v.2.2). Compared to rain gauge observations and based on the modified Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) values, the SM2RAIN-ASCAT and -CCI are more accurate in the Altiplano than in Pakistan. This difference is explained by a more favourable physical context for satellite-based SM estimates in the Altiplano. Over the Altiplano and despite an overall positive bias, SM2RAIN-ASCAT describes rain gauges temporal dynamics as well as IMERG-F v.6, CHIRPS v.2 and MSWEP v.2.2 and provides streamflow simulations very close to those obtained when using IMERG-F v.6, CHIRPS v.2 and MSWEP v.2.2 as forcing data.
