How reliable are satellite precipitation estimates for driving hydrological models: A verification study over the Mediterranean area

Satellite-based rainfall products (SRPs) are nowadays available at ever increasing accuracy and higher spatial and temporal resolution with respect to the past. Despite this, they are scarcely used in hydrological modeling. The main reasons may be related to: 1) the large bias characterizing satellite precipitation estimates, which is dependent on rainfall intensity and the season, 2) the relatively large spatial/temporal resolution with respect to the applications, 3) the timeliness, which is often insufficient for operational purposes, and 4) a general (often not justified) skepticism of the hydrological community in the use of satellite products for land applications.