Evaluation of sub-daily precipitation variability and its diurnal characteristics in satellite and reanalysis datasets against ground-based observations

Choi, Gyuyeon; Seo, Eunkyo; Dirmeyer, Paul A.

doi:10.5194/hess-30-6927-2026

Articles | Volume 30, issue 21

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6927-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6927-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 30, issue 21

Research article

|

10 Nov 2026

Research article |

| 10 Nov 2026

Evaluation of sub-daily precipitation variability and its diurnal characteristics in satellite and reanalysis datasets against ground-based observations

Gyuyeon Choi, Eunkyo Seo, and Paul A. Dirmeyer

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6927-2026-supplement

Data sets

Subset of Global Sub-Daily Rainfall (GSDR) dataset E. Lewis et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8369987

ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

Japanese Reanalysis for Three Quarters of a Century (JRA-3Q) Japan Meteorological Society https://doi.org/10.5065/AVTZ-1H78

2d, 1-Hourly, Time-Averaged, Single-Level, Assimilation, Surface Flux Diagnostics V5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office and S. Pawson https://doi.org/10.5067/7MCPBJ41Y0K6

Short summary

This study evaluates five satellite and four reanalysis products against 6,824 ground-based observations for diurnal cycle fidelity. Satellites show a 1–2 hour phase delay due to upper-level ice detection, while reanalyses peak 3–6 hours early from premature convective onset. These contrasting performances are linked to specific design choices in retrieval algorithms and convective parameterization, offering physically grounded guidance for dataset selection in hydrological and climate studies.