Calibration and application of TRMM precipitation data in Irrawaddy River Basin

Abstract

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite rainfall data were assessed and calibrated using limited ground meteorological and hydrological data in Irrawaddy River basin, a watershed with complex terrain conditions but lack of data. A correction factor was determined to adjust TRMM data, taking basin water balance and terrain slopes into consideration. A distributed hydrological model SWAT was established and used to simulate the basin rainfall-runoff processes from 2001 to 2011, driven by the calibrated TRMM rainfall data series. Results show that, in a data scarce basin like Irrawaddy River basin, such a water balanced based TRMM data calibration method is suitable and reliable.