Universität zu Köln

Babker, Zryab ORCID: 0000-0002-2208-9371, Basheer, Mohammed ORCID: 0000-0001-9468-2249, Reichenau, Tim G. ORCID: 0000-0002-5062-6218, Komma, Jürgen, Baez‐Villanueva, Oscar M. ORCID: 0000-0002-2262-1698, Zargar, Morteza ORCID: 0000-0001-5810-7183 and Schneider, Karl ORCID: 0000-0002-4381-2151 (2025). Comparative Evaluation of Gridded Precipitation Datasets in Capturing Hydrological Extremes in a Mesoscale Heterogeneous Catchment in Austria. Hydrological Processes, 39 (12). pp. 1-29. Wiley. ISSN 0885-6087

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: e70359] Accurate representation of extreme precipitation is crucial for assessing flood hazards and developing risk mitigation strategies. For such applications, gridded Precipitation Products (PPs) can be a promising alternative to traditional point measurements, especially in regions where such measurements are sparse or non‐existent. However, the accuracy of PPs in representing extreme precipitation should be evaluated before use. In this study, we evaluate the performance of four PPs (SPARTACUS v2.1, IMERG‐F v07, CHIRPS v2.0, and ERA5‐Land) against 33 precipitation gauges at a daily time scale over the Kamp catchment in Austria for the period 1998–2020. The hydrological response in the catchment is influenced not only by the intensity of extreme precipitation events but also by antecedent soil moisture and seasonal conditions. Continuous and categorical performance metrics are used to evaluate the performance of the PPs at gauge locations. Additionally, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) model is used to assess the reliability of PPs when used as forcings for hydrological modelling. The results reveal that while most evaluated products can detect no‐rain events, their ability to capture extreme precipitation events varies notably. SPARTACUS v2.1 exhibited the best ability to detect extremes at gauge locations, resulting in streamflow simulation that closely matched the observed data. IMERG‐F v07 demonstrated moderate performance in both extreme precipitation detection and corresponding peak flow generation. In contrast, CHIRPS v2.0 and ERA5‐Land showed poor performance in representing extreme precipitation, resulting in underestimated high flows and lower reliability in simulating flood‐related hydrological processes. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating the ability of PPs in capturing extreme precipitation to ensure reliable simulation of flood peaks and hydrological extremes. We conclude that catchment‐specific validation linking precipitation extremes to hydrological responses is essential for selecting appropriate precipitation forcings for hydrological applications.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Babker, Zryab UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2208-9371 UNSPECIFIED Basheer, Mohammed UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9468-2249 UNSPECIFIED Reichenau, Tim G. UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5062-6218 UNSPECIFIED Komma, Jürgen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Baez‐Villanueva, Oscar M. UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2262-1698 UNSPECIFIED Zargar, Morteza UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5810-7183 UNSPECIFIED Schneider, Karl UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4381-2151 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-805261
Identification Number:	10.1002/hyp.70359
Journal or Publication Title:	Hydrological Processes
Volume:	39
Number:	12
Page Range:	pp. 1-29
Number of Pages:	29
Date:	18 December 2025
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0885-6087
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Geosciences > Geographisches Institut
Subjects:	Earth sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Austria ; elevation zones ; extreme precipitation ; gridded precipitation products ; Kamp catchment ; point-to-pixel evaluation ; streamflow simulation ; SWAT+ model English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80526