GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty

<p>Here, we introduce the first version of the Global Interpolated RAinFall Estimation (GIRAFE v1), the first dedicated global climate data record for precipitation by the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteoro...

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Main Authors: H. Konrad, R. Roca, A. Niedorf, S. Finkensieper, M. Schröder, S. Cloché, G. Panegrossi, P. Sanò, C. Kidd, R. A. Jucá Oliveira, K. Fennig, T. Sikorski, M. Lemoine, R. Hollmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Earth System Science Data
Online Access:https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/4097/2025/essd-17-4097-2025.pdf
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author H. Konrad
R. Roca
A. Niedorf
S. Finkensieper
M. Schröder
S. Cloché
G. Panegrossi
P. Sanò
C. Kidd
C. Kidd
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
K. Fennig
T. Sikorski
M. Lemoine
R. Hollmann
author_facet H. Konrad
R. Roca
A. Niedorf
S. Finkensieper
M. Schröder
S. Cloché
G. Panegrossi
P. Sanò
C. Kidd
C. Kidd
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
K. Fennig
T. Sikorski
M. Lemoine
R. Hollmann
author_sort H. Konrad
collection DOAJ
description <p>Here, we introduce the first version of the Global Interpolated RAinFall Estimation (GIRAFE v1), the first dedicated global climate data record for precipitation by the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). GIRAFE is based on precipitation rate estimates obtained from observations by a variety of passive microwave (PMW) radiometers on board low-Earth orbit satellites and related retrieval algorithms and frequent and highly resolved infrared observations from geostationary satellites covering all longitudes and used at latitudes below 55° N/S. At higher latitudes, only the PMW-based precipitation rates are utilised. GIRAFE v1 is available globally at 1° resolution as daily accumulations and monthly means for the years 2002–2022, with an implementation of continuous production planned for 2025 onwards. The daily product is accompanied by a dedicated sampling uncertainty estimate based on decorrelation scales in space and time in infrared-based instantaneous precipitation fields. The methods for the generation of GIRAFE v1 are described in detail, followed by the results of quality assessment and intercomparison activities. GIRAFE v1 reproduces reference datasets with a performance similar to that of established precipitation products, especially those that are – like GIRAFE v1 – not adjusted to ground-based observations. Likewise, GIRAFE v1 proves to be suitable for the analysis of regional precipitation extremes, e.g. in their relation to sea surface temperatures. The main objective in the production of GIRAFE v1 is climate applications, for which we find the dataset highly suitable according to the stability and homogeneity analysis. The GIRAFE v1 data record is hosted by CM SAF and is freely available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/GIRAFE/V001">https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/GIRAFE/V001</a> (Niedorf et al., 2024a).</p>
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spelling doaj-art-83dceab47e814e94a92ab0efec7092ff2025-08-26T11:03:22ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth System Science Data1866-35081866-35162025-08-01174097412410.5194/essd-17-4097-2025GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertaintyH. Konrad0R. Roca1A. Niedorf2S. Finkensieper3M. Schröder4S. Cloché5G. Panegrossi6P. Sanò7C. Kidd8C. Kidd9R. A. Jucá Oliveira10R. A. Jucá Oliveira11K. Fennig12T. Sikorski13M. Lemoine14R. Hollmann15Deutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyLaboratoire d'Etudes Géophysiques et d'Océanographie Spatiales, 14, av. Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse CEDEX 9, FranceDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyInstitut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Sciences du Climat, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, FranceNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, ItalyUniversity of Maryland, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, 5825 University Research Ct., College Park, MD 20740, USANASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USALaboratoire d'Etudes Géophysiques et d'Océanographie Spatiales, 14, av. Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse CEDEX 9, Francenow at: Hydro Matters, 1 Chemin de la Pousaraque, 31460 Le Faget, FranceDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, GermanyLaboratoire d'Etudes Géophysiques et d'Océanographie Spatiales, 14, av. Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse CEDEX 9, FranceDeutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-Based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, Germany<p>Here, we introduce the first version of the Global Interpolated RAinFall Estimation (GIRAFE v1), the first dedicated global climate data record for precipitation by the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). GIRAFE is based on precipitation rate estimates obtained from observations by a variety of passive microwave (PMW) radiometers on board low-Earth orbit satellites and related retrieval algorithms and frequent and highly resolved infrared observations from geostationary satellites covering all longitudes and used at latitudes below 55° N/S. At higher latitudes, only the PMW-based precipitation rates are utilised. GIRAFE v1 is available globally at 1° resolution as daily accumulations and monthly means for the years 2002–2022, with an implementation of continuous production planned for 2025 onwards. The daily product is accompanied by a dedicated sampling uncertainty estimate based on decorrelation scales in space and time in infrared-based instantaneous precipitation fields. The methods for the generation of GIRAFE v1 are described in detail, followed by the results of quality assessment and intercomparison activities. GIRAFE v1 reproduces reference datasets with a performance similar to that of established precipitation products, especially those that are – like GIRAFE v1 – not adjusted to ground-based observations. Likewise, GIRAFE v1 proves to be suitable for the analysis of regional precipitation extremes, e.g. in their relation to sea surface temperatures. The main objective in the production of GIRAFE v1 is climate applications, for which we find the dataset highly suitable according to the stability and homogeneity analysis. The GIRAFE v1 data record is hosted by CM SAF and is freely available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/GIRAFE/V001">https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/GIRAFE/V001</a> (Niedorf et al., 2024a).</p>https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/4097/2025/essd-17-4097-2025.pdf
spellingShingle H. Konrad
R. Roca
A. Niedorf
S. Finkensieper
M. Schröder
S. Cloché
G. Panegrossi
P. Sanò
C. Kidd
C. Kidd
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
R. A. Jucá Oliveira
K. Fennig
T. Sikorski
M. Lemoine
R. Hollmann
GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
Earth System Science Data
title GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
title_full GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
title_fullStr GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
title_full_unstemmed GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
title_short GIRAFE v1: a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
title_sort girafe v1 a global climate data record for precipitation accompanied by a daily sampling uncertainty
url https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/4097/2025/essd-17-4097-2025.pdf
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