# Precipitation Measurements Over Africa

Advancing the synthesis and analysis of precipitation measurements to address data scarcity and uncertainty.

## Introduction and Rationale

This initiative aims to address the challenges outlined in GPEX Science Question Q1: determining the sources and magnitude of uncertainties in precipitation estimates in data-sparse regions. While numerous datasets exist, these in situ and hybrid precipitation datasets need to be compiled, documented, and linked under a unified, accessible repository. This resource will maximize the utilization of existing coverage and support research, data assimilation, and model evaluation.

## Website Objectives

### Data Compilation and Inventory

Providing a comprehensive list, detailed metadata, and direct links to all publicly available ground and satellite-borne precipitation data collected over Africa across several decades.

### Research Integration

Including links to descriptive research papers and publications that document the methodologies, characteristics, and validation of the listed precipitation products.

### Community Outreach

Sharing project progress, analysis codes, and open-source tools to enable broader participation in the analysis of African precipitation data, supporting advanced methods like AI-assisted downscaling.

## Data Inventory

The following datasets are key to our synthesis and analysis:

Name | Reference | Domain | Temporal Coverage | Gridded/Ungridded | Link
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Global Historical Climatology Network hourly (GHCNh) | Historical | Global |  |  | Access Data
African Rainfall Climatology version 2 (ARC2) |  | Africa | 1983-Present | Satellite | Access Data
EumetSat Rainfall Estimate for Africa (RFE) |  | Africa | 2001-Present | Satellite-Gauge | Access Data
Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) |  | 50°S-50°N | 1981-Present | Satellite-Gauge | Access Data
CPC Unified Gauge-Based Analysis of Global Daily Precipitation |  | Global |  | Gauge | Access Data
NOAA Precipitation Reconstruction (PRECIP) |  | Global |  | Reconstruction | Access Data
The African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) |  | West Africa | 1950-Present | Gauge | Access Data
University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU) |  | Global |  | Gridded | Access Data
TAMSAT | Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite data | Africa | 1983-Present | Satellite-Gauge | Access Data
Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) |  | Global/Regional |  |  | Access Data
TAHMO |  | Africa (20k stations) | Real-time | Gauge | Access Data
DACCIWA |  | West Africa |  | Field Campaign | Access Data
PERSIANN |  | Global |  | Satellite |
IMERG |  | Global | 2000-Present | Satellite-Gauge |
ISCCP Weather State Data | NOAA-NCEI and NASA-GISS | Global |  | Satellite | Access Data
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) |  | Tropical |  | Satellite |
Rainsat |  |  |  |  |
Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) |  | Global |  | Merged | Access Data
University of Delware (UDEL) |  | Global |  | Gridded | Access Data
CPC Merged Analysis Precipitation (CMAP) |  | Global |  | Merged | Access Data
Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) |  | Global |  | Gauge | Access Data
CMORPH |  | Global |  | Satellite |
HIGHWAY |  | Lake Victoria |  | Field Campaign |
Rain over Africa | Amell et. al. 2025 | Africa |  | Gridded | Access Data
SASSCAL |  | Southern Africa |  | Gauge |
3DPAWS |  | Global |  | Gauge | Access Data
REGEN | Contractor et al. 2020 | Global (land only) | daily; 1 x 1 degree | Gridded | Access Data
MSWEP | Beck et al. 2019 | Global | 3hr; 0.25 x 0.25 degree | Gridded | Access Data

## Advancement of GPEX Working Group Goals

This project contributes directly to the objectives of all four GPEX Working Groups (WGs):

### WG2: Data Development

Facilitating systematic evaluation and uncertainty quantification by compiling existing in situ and hybrid precipitation datasets.

### WG3: Modeling & Prediction

Providing the essential observational foundation required for multi-model databases and common evaluation metrics to diagnose and reduce precipitation biases.

### WG4: Capacity Development

Making precipitation datasets available for resource-challenged scientists, particularly from the Global South, enhancing regional and local capacity building.

### WG1: Field Campaigns

Helping characterize observation gaps and inform GPEX strategies, such as planning logistics for future field campaigns.

## Contact

For more information, please contact:

### [Name]

[Title/Affiliation]

Email: email@example.com