SATELLITE RAINFALL ESTIMATION IN URUGUAY: A VIABLE OPTION?

This study evaluates the performance of several satellite-based precipitation products, including GSMaP, IMERG, CHIRPS, MERGE CPTEC, and NASA POWER, using rainfall data from the agroclimatic stations of the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA Uruguay). Covering the period from 2014 to 2022, the analysis focuses on daily and monthly rainfall accumulations, comparing the accuracy of each product against ground observations. Results show that GSMaP and IMERG exhibit the highest accuracy for daily rainfall estimates, with R² values of 0.73 and 0.67, and RMSE values of 5.94 mm and 6.54 mm, respectively. These products offer a reliable alternative in regions with limited rain gauge data, allowing for improved spatial coverage and enhanced applications in agricultural and climate studies. Monthly analysis further validates GSMaP's superior performance, followed by NASA POWER and IMERG.