Evaluation and Comparison of Satellite and GCM Rainfall Estimates for the Mara River Basin, Kenya/Tanzania

Abstract

Water resources and climate change studies in data-scarce regions of the world are increasingly employing satellite rainfall estimates (RFEs) and rainfall outputs from general circulations models (GCMs). The reliability of these data sources is seldom verified with observed data prior to application. This chapter outlines the application of simple evaluation techniques to assess the potential of RFE and GCMs outputs as a potential rainfall information sources in the Mara River basin (MRB), Kenya/Tanzania. Results of the assessment show that proper care is required in comparing/mixing of results from studies using different RFE in the MRB. In general, RFE and GCMs are promising sources of information, but refining the estimates with a much improved algorithms is essential.