Multiscale Evaluation of Gridded Precipitation Datasets across Varied Elevation Zones in Central Asia’s Hilly Region

Abstract

The lack of observed data makes research on the cryosphere and ecology extremely difficult, especially in Central Asia’s hilly regions. Before their direct hydroclimatic uses, the performance study of gridded precipitation datasets (GPDS) is of utmost importance. This study assessed the multiscale ground evaluation of three reanalysis datasets (ERA5, MEERA2, and APHRO) and five satellite datasets (PERSIANN-PDIR, CHIRPS, GPM-SM2Rain, SM2Rain-ASCAT, and SM2Rain-CCI). Several temporal scales (daily, monthly, seasonal (winter, spring, summer, autumn), and annual) of all the GPDS were analyzed across the complete spatial domain and point-to-pixel scale from January 2000 to December 2013. The validation of GPDS was evaluated using evaluation indices (Root Mean Square Error, correlation coefficient, bias, and relative bias) and categorical indices (False Alarm Ratio, Probability of Detection, success ratio, and Critical Success Index). The performance of all GPDS was also analyzed based on different elevation zones (≤1500, ≤2500, >2500 m). According to the results, the daily estimations of the spatiotemporal tracking abilities of CHIRPS, APHRO, and GPM-SM2Rain are superior to those of the other datasets. All GPDS performed better on a monthly scale than they performed on a daily scale when the ranges were adequate (CC > 0.7 and r-BIAS (10)). Apart from the winter season, the CHIRPS beat all the other GPDS in standings of POD on a daily and seasonal scale. In the summer, all GPDS showed underestimations, but GPM showed the biggest underestimation (−70). Additionally, the CHIRPS indicated the best overall performance across all seasons. As shown by the probability density function (PDF %), all GPDS demonstrated more adequate performance in catching the light precipitation (>2 mm/day) events. APHRO and SM2Rain-CCI typically function moderately at low elevations, whereas all GPDS showed underestimation across the highest elevation >2500 m. As an outcome, we strongly suggest employing the CHIRPS precipitation product’s daily, and monthly estimates for hydroclimatic applications over the hilly region of Tajikistan.