Applications of satellite information for rainwater estimation and usage: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Global climate change introduces significant uncertainty in water resource availability, making precipitation studies essential for societal sustainability. Satellite precipitation products (SPPs) have emerged as a vital alternative and complement to traditional meteorological station data for hydrological and climate research. This review examines scientific literature on SPP applications for daily, monthly, and annual rainfall estimations globally. Eleven widely used SPPs were identified, with the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) and climate hazards group infrared precipitation with station data (CHIRPS) standing out due to their frequent usage, high resolution, and extensive data records. A growing trend in research utilizes SPPs for hydrological studies and validates their estimates by contrasting satellite information with ground station measurements using continuous and categorical statistics. TRMM and CHIRPS, in particular, show precipitation accuracies closer to station data, influenced by local topography and climatology. Furthermore, SPP data, combined with geographic information systems (GIS), proves useful for identifying potential rainwater harvesting sites, offering an alternative information source to address water availability crises in drought-prone areas.