Ground validation and error decomposition for six state-of-the-art satellite precipitation products over mainland China

Evaluating the quality of satellite precipitation products (SPPs) is crucially important for SPPs' applications and improvements. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate accuracy six widely used SPPs (GSMaP, IMERG, TMPA, CMORPH, PERSIANN, CHIRPS) from 2000 2017 over mainland China using 2372 rain gauges. The performance at different spatio-temporal scales altitudes are explored. probability density function (PDF) intensities also considered. In addition, special attention has been paid analyze error components sources. Results demonstrate that: (1) GSMaP outperforms other with good statistical metrics, followed by IMERG. PERSIANN CHIRPS have more space improvement. All perform well in summer while worse winter. Meanwhile, all varies region region, which better southeast coastal basins than northwest inland basins. (2) overall low-altitude regions superior high-altitude regions. KGE (or RMSE) shows a significant negative positive) correlation altitude, whereas POD, FAR, CSI exhibit slight dependence on altitude. (3) TMPA can reproduce PDF intensities. consistent gauges moderate (5–10 mm/d) heavy (10–50 mm/d), deviates tiny/light (0.1–5 violate (>50 mm/d). (4) each SPP could be larger total errors, false bias major source. achieves low hit missed bias, behaves poorly large hit, bias. On whole, demonstrates characteristics mainstream China, expected provide valuable information hydrometeorology applications.