Abstract
This article examines the reliability of satellite and reanalysis estimates of rainfall in the Congo Basin and over Lake Victoria and its catchment. Nine satellite products and five reanalysis products are considered. They are assessed by way of inter-comparison and by comparison with observational data sets. The three locations considered include a region with little observational gauge data (the Congo), a region with extensive gauge data (Lake Victoria catchment), and an inland water body. Several important results emerge: for one, the diversity of estimates is generally very large, except for the Lake Victoria catchment. Reanalysis products show little relationship with observed rainfall or with the satellite estimates, and thus should not be used to assess rainfall in these regions. Most of the products either overestimate or underestimate rainfall over the lake. The diversity of estimates makes it difficult to assess the factors governing the interannual variability of rainfall in these regions. This is shown by way of correlation with sea-surface temperatures, particularly with the Niño 3.4 temperatures and with the Dipole Mode Index over the Indian Ocean. Some guidance is given as to the best products to utilize. Overall, any user must establish that the is product reliable in the region studied.
Highlights
Congo Basin and over Lake Victoria and its catchment
The second problem is that the products which are strongly dependent on passive microwave data produce questionable results over the extensive lakes of eastern Africa [5]
The overall goal of this article is an inter-comparison of precipitation estimates from three types of sources: gauge data, satellite products, and reanalysis data sets
Summary
Congo Basin and over Lake Victoria and its catchment. Nine satellite products and five reanalysis products are considered. A result of this is that the various satellite products give extremely diverse results in regions where gauge data are scarce, such as the Congo Basin [3]. This holds true for reanalysis products as well [4]. One is central equatorial Africa, in particular a region within the Congo Basin Analysis in this area will serve to illustrate the diversity of estimates in an area without gauge coverage. The second is eastern Africa, with emphasis on the Lake Victoria region This region will illustrate the difficulty of using satellite products to produce reliable estimates of over-lake rainfall. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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