Validation of TRMM and other satellite estimates of rainfall over select regions of Africa

This paper compares rainfall estimates from satellites and blended data sets with gauge data for Africa. For continental scale validation, including latitudinal transects, a network of approximately 1200 rainfall stations is utilized. In select sectors of West Africa, East Africa and southern Africa, a denser network of stations is used for the validation. The current validation is limited to monthly totals. For GPCC, GPCP, SMM/I and Reanalysis data, validation is for the period 1987 to 1994. For TRMM the validation is limited to the year 1998.