Is TRMM product good proxy for gauge precipitation over peat land area of the South Sumatera?

Abstract

The Tropical Precipitation Measuring Mission (TRMM) provides daily precipitation data covering the tropical region. In this study, data from the TRMM were compared with those obtained from direct measurement using an integrated observation system namely SE nsor y data transmission S ervice A ssisted by M idori E ngineering laboratory(SESAME). The SESAME directly measures and records the ground water level, soil moisture, skin temperature and precipitation in the peatland area. There are four SESAME stations used in this study, two stations located at the Peatland Hydrological Unit (PHU) of the Saleh River and the other two are located at the PHU of the Lumpur Riverfor validating the TRMM precipitation data. The analysis indicates that the precipitation data obtained from the TRMM have significant correlation with those recorded by the SESAME. The coefficient correlations at those PHU Saleh River I, PHU Saleh River II, PHU Lumpur River I and PHU Lumpur River II are 0.52, 0.48, 0.53 and 0.52, respectively. Meanwhile, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the TRMM relative to SESAME data at those four stations are 1.88 mm/d, 2.62 mm/d, 1.53 mm/d and 2.31 mm/d, respectively. Therefore, the TRMM product is a good proxy for gauge precipitation over the peatland area of the South Sumatera.