SATELLITE RAINFALL FOR THE NILE RIVER CATCHMENT

Egypt

Sponsors: UN/FAO
StartDate: 12/1999
PI/Co-PIs: Dr. Georgakakos
Collaborators: AA. Tsonis, U. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and S.Nickovic, University of Athens, Greece

This research and development effort first produced a tri-spectral rainfall estimation methodology using METEOSAT visible, water vapor and infrared channels and then implemented it at the Nile Forecast Center (NFC) in Cairo, Egypt, as part of the operational forecast system of Blue and White Nile River flows. A series of training activities took place both at the NFC and at the Hydrologic Research Center on the theory and application of the methodology. Validation of the rainfall estimates obtained for the period May-October for each of the years 1992-1997 shows reliable estimation of rainy and non-rainy areas near the raingauge sites, and good approximation of the large scale gauge-produced rainfall averages. Research also assessed the performance of the operational hydrologic models driven by the satellite rainfall estimates and examined issues of model calibration with data from different sources.