Innovative improvements supporting version 3 of the Climate Hazard Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations

In the latest improvements to the Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Stations dataset, CHIRPS3 (version 3), we address key shortcomings and validate the results against high gauge density datasets. The Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Stations version 2 (CHIRPS2) is a widely-used 1981-present quasi-global 0.05° dataset that combines thermal infrared (TIR) geostationary satellite observations, a high-resolution climatology, and in situ rainfall gauge observations. While many studies have shown that CHIRPS2 performs well, we have identified and addressed an important shortcoming — a tendency to underestimate temporal precipitation variance. We also update and improve version 2 of the Climate Hazards Precipitation Climatology (CHPclimv2), and extend CHIRPS to 60°N/S. Finally, thousands of additional new time-varying stations are now included in CHIRPS3. Several countries in Africa, Central America and South America routinely contribute stations monthly.

We validate estimates using the high quality ‘Rainfall on a Gridded Network’ (REGEN) data set, comparing the performance of the CHIRP2 and CHIRP3 and similar products in 12 regions with high gauge densities. We also perform a validation study in Ethiopia. The usage section contrasts CHIRP2 and CHIRP3 performance in East Africa, during recent seasons associated with severe drought or extreme precipitation, to illustrate the value of the advancements made in the CHIRPS precipitation data product.