Comparison of bias correction methods to enhance CHIRP rainfall estimates for improved streamflow simulation at Ziway-Shalla Catchment, Ethiopia

Study region: Ziway-Shalla Catchment, Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia. Study focus: Rainfall data availability significantly impacts the performance of rainfall-runoff models. Satellite rainfall estimates have the potential to fill data gaps if their systematic error is corrected. This study aims to co...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Beyene, T. L., Haile, Alemseged Tamiru, Goshime, D. W., Birhan, S. T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178153
Descripción
Sumario:Study region: Ziway-Shalla Catchment, Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia. Study focus: Rainfall data availability significantly impacts the performance of rainfall-runoff models. Satellite rainfall estimates have the potential to fill data gaps if their systematic error is corrected. This study aims to compare the performance of five bias correction methods namely power transformation (PT), quantile mapping based on gamma distribution (QMG), daily translation (DAT), distribution transformation (DT), and linear scaling (LS) using Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation (CHIRP) product. The effect of bias corrections on simulated streamflow was assessed using the Hydrologiska ByrånsVattenbalansavdelning (HBV) model. New hydrological insights for the region : Results revealed the raw CHIRP contains large biases and the accuracy of bias-corrected rainfall data showed spatial variation across the study basin in Ethiopia. The QMG and PT methods outperformed other bias correction methods, whereas DT performed poorly in capturing the spatial pattern of annual average rainfall and its temporal variation. The streamflow simulated by the HBV model resulted in ∼11 % relative volume error (RVE) when the raw CHIRP product served as model input. Using bias-corrected CHIRP rainfall estimates improved the model performance in capturing the volume and pattern of the observed streamflow hydrograph and calibrated model parameter values changed when the rainfall input and bias correction methods varied. The results highlight the importance of bias correction methods for improved streamflow simulation.