Enhancing Hydrological Insights for Tropical Cyclones Using Satellite Precipitation Data.

The frequency and severity of extreme meteorological and hydrological events, including tropical cyclones (TCs), are being reshaped by global climate change, posing significant challenges to infrastructure resilience and disaster management. This study evaluates the performance of satellite-derived quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) for hydrological applications during landfalling TCs, focusing on the interplay between localized rainfall and flooding. Using globally available datasets, we analyze eight TCs, including Hurricane Charley (2004) and Hurricane Michael (2018), to address three critical questions: (i) the reliability of satellite QPEs during TC scenarios, (ii) variability among gridded precipitation products (ground-based, radar, and satellite), and (iii) the implications of these differences for surface hydrology and flood risk.

Results indicate that the IMERG, satellite product underpredicts precipitation at higher quantiles but aligns well with ground-based and radar-derived products at lower quantiles. Urban areas exhibit the largest discrepancies in runoff estimates, with errors up to 18 mm, while agricultural and forested regions show more stable performance. Along TC tracks, IMERG reliably estimates hydrological variables in 90% of scenarios, with errors ranging from 0 to 10 mm. These findings underscore the utility of satellite QPEs like IMERG in understanding and forecasting short-term hydrological impacts of TCs, even amidst variations in precipitation intensity and location.

This research highlights the critical role of satellite precipitation products in addressing global disparities in real-time flood prediction systems, informing infrastructure planning, and mitigating societal vulnerability to extreme events. It contributes to the broader effort of enhancing early warning systems and proactive disaster risk management in the face of evolving climate extremes.