High-Resolution Spatiotemporal Trend Analysis of Precipitation Using Satellite-Based Products over the United Arab Emirates

Khalid A Hussein,Tareefa S Alsumaiti,Dawit T Ghebreyesus,Hatim O Sharif,Waleed Abdalati

doi:10.3390/w13172376

Abstract

Current water demands are adequately satisfied in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the available water resources. However, the changing climate and growing water demand pose a great challenge for water resources managers in the country. Hence, there is a great need for management strategies and policies to use the most accurate information regarding water availability. Understanding the frequency and the short- and long-term trends of the precipitation by employing high-resolution data in both the spatial and temporal domains can provide invaluable information. This study examines the long-term precipitation trends over the UAE using 17 years of data from three of the most highly cited satellite-based precipitation products and rain gauge data observed at 18 stations. The UAE received, on average, 42, 51, and 120 wet hours in a year in the 21st century as recorded by CMORPH, PERSIANN, and IMERG, respectively. The results show that the areal average annual precipitation of the UAE is significantly lower in the early 21st century than that of the late 20th century, even though it shows an increasing trend by all the products. The Mann–Kendall trend test showed positive trends in six rain gauge stations and negative trends in two stations out of 18 stations, all of which are located in the wetter eastern part of the UAE. Results indicate that satellite products have great potential for improving the spatial aspects of rainfall frequency analysis and can complement rain gauge data to develop rainfall intensity–duration–frequency curves in a very dry region, where the installation of dense rain gauge networks is not feasible.

Highlights

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in a region characterized by high temperatures and very low precipitation [1]
Precipitation frequency analysis helps in answering two important questions: How often does it rain in the UAE and how much? Such knowledge is crucial in water resource management and the agricultural sector because the amount and timing of irrigation and fertilization depend on rainfall timing [43]
The lowest countrywide annual average rainfall is estimated by center Morphing technique (CMORPH) with only 37 mm over the 17 years of study whereas the highest annual average was registered by IMERG at

Summary

Introduction

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in a region characterized by high temperatures and very low precipitation [1]. The freshwater resource of the country, which is mainly available as groundwater, is very limited, but the water demand continues to soar due to the improvement in the living standard, population increase, and economic growth. To meet the increasing water demand of these sectors, the UAE deploys several conventional and non-conventional sources of water within its water supply management system. Strikingly low availability of natural water resources has encouraged the UAE to meet its requirements through desalination plants, which account for 22% of the water produced in the UAE [4]. Current water demands are adequately satisfied with the available water resources, the UAE is set to face challenges in the future owing to the depletion of natural water sources, population growth, increasing urbanization, and the impacts of global warming [5]

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