Capability of Satellite Rainfall Products in Simulating Streamflow at the Ogun-Osun River Basin, Ogun State, Nigeria

Student: Ogheneruno Favour Iruetere (Project, 2025)
Department of Civil Engineering
Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State


Abstract

This study examines the performance of several satellite rainfall products— CMORPH, PERSIANN-CDR, CHIRPS and IMERG—in simulating stream-flow within the Ogun-Osun River Basin, Nigeria. Satellite-derived data is especially useful for hydro-logical modeling in areas with limited ground-based rainfall measurements. Using these satellite rainfall inputs, a hydro-logical model was built, and the resulting simulated stream-flow was compared to observed data from gauging stations. IMERG emerged as the most accurate product, with a Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.71, successfully capturing both peak flows and base flow. In contrast, PERSIANN-CDR and CHIRPS were less effective, particularly in forecasting high-intensity rainfall events. The study underscores the importance of satellite rainfall products in improving flood prediction and water resource management, though uncertainties in the rainfall data still present challenges. It is recommended to combine multiple satellite datasets and extend ground-based observation networks for greater accuracy in stream-flow simulations.

Keywords
rainfall satellite stream-flow products persiann-cdr chirps imerg hydro-logical ground-based examines