How reliable are satellite precipitation estimates for driving hydrological models: A verification study over the Mediterranean area

The results highlight that SRPs provide relatively low performances when used to force MISDc model with respect to the case where ground observations are used. Worst results are obtained in smaller basins (<500 km2) that, however, represent the main target for flood modelling in the Mediterranean area. Relatively better performances are obtained when independent SRPs are integrated each other, and particularly for the case where TMPA 3B42-RT is integrated with SM2RAINCCI. In accordance with previous studies, this suggests that the exploitation (via integration) of independent sources of rainfall offers a potential way to reduce rainfall-induced streamflow errors, even in challenging areas like the Mediterranean.