Hydrometeorological data extension for the Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa using satellite remote sensing

Conventional techniques for assessing and investigating water resources in the Sudan and Sahel zones of West Africa, which are subject to frequent and prolonged droughts, are often difficult to implement. Satellite remote sensing coupled with available ground truth data from a limited number of rain gauge locations provides an alternative means of hydrometric data extension within the zone. Monthly and seasonal rainfall estimates, based on a database derived from Meteosat infrared data, are determined. Rain gauge data are regressed on five-day maximum surface temperatures and cold cloud occurrences. A linear model is used for dry month estimates. Values of the coefficient of determination vary from 0.55 to 0.69 for the monthly model, and the value is 0.83 for the seasonal model