Browsing by Author "Gunathilake, M"

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Open Access
Artificial Neural Network based PERSIANN data sets in evaluation of hydrologic utility of precipitation estimations in a tropical watershed of Sri Lanka
(AIMS Geosciences, 2021-09) Gunathilake, M; Senarath, T; Rathnayake, U. S
The developments of satellite technologies and remote sensing (RS) have provided a way forward with potential for tremendous progress in estimating precipitation in many regions of the world. These products are especially useful in developing countries and regions, where ground-based rain gauge (RG) networks are either sparse or do not exist. In the present study the hydrologic utility of three satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) namely, Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), PERSIANN-Cloud Classification System (PERSIANN-CCS) and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Dynamic Infrared Rain Rate near real-time (PDIR-NOW) were examined by using them to drive the Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) hydrologic model for the Seethawaka watershed, a sub-basin of the Kelani River Basin of Sri Lanka. The hydrologic utility of SbPPs was examined by comparing the outputs of this modelling exercise against observed discharge records at the Deraniyagala streamflow gauging station during two extreme rainfall events from 2016 and 2017. The observed discharges were simulated considerably better by the model when RG data was used to drive it than when these SbPPs. The results demonstrated that PERSIANN family of precipitation products are not capable of producing peak discharges and timing of peaks essential for near-real time flood-forecasting applications in the Seethawaka watershed. The difference in performance is quantified using the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency, which was >0.80 for the model when driven by RGs, and <0.08 when driven by the SbPPs. Amongst the SbPPs, PERSIANN performed best. The outcomes of this study will provide useful insights and recommendations for future research expected to be carried out in the Seethawaka watershed using SbPPs. The results of this 479 AIMS Geosciences Volume 7, Issue 3, 478–489. study calls for the refinement of retrieval algorithms in rainfall estimation techniques of PERSIANN family of rainfall products for the tropical region.
Open Access
Hydrologic utility of satellite-based and gauge-based gridded precipitation products in the Huai Bang Sai watershed of Northeastern Thailand
(https://www.mdpi.com/journal/hydrology, 2021-11-01) Gunathilake, M; Zamri, M. N. M; Alagiyawanna, T; Samarasinghe, J; Baddewela, P; Babel, M; Jha, M; Rathnayake, U. S
Accurate rainfall estimates are important in many hydrologic activities. Rainfall data are retrieved from rain gauges (RGs), satellites, radars, and re-analysis products. The accuracy of gauge-based gridded precipitation products (GbGPPs) relies on the distribution of RGs and the quality of rainfall data records obtained from these. The accuracy of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) depends on many factors, including basin climatology, basin topography, precipitation mechanism, etc. The hydrologic utility of different precipitation products was examined in many developed regions; however, less focused on the developing world. The Huai Bang Sai (HBS) watershed in north-eastern Thailand is a less focused but an important catchment that significantly contributes to the water resources in Thailand. Therefore, this research presents the investigation results of the hydrologic utility of SbPPs and GbGPPs in the HBS watershed. The efficiency of nine SbPPs (including 3B42, 3B42-RT, PERSIANN, PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-CDR, CHIRPS, CMORPH, IMERG, and MSWEP) and three GbGPPs (including APHRODITE_V1801, APHRODITE_V1901, and GPCC) was examined by simulating streamflow of the HBS watershed through the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), hydrologic model. Subsequently, the streamflow simulation capacity of the hydrological model for different precipitation products was compared against observed streamflow records by using the same set of calibrated parameters used for an RG simulated scenario. The 3B42 product outperformed other SbPPS with a higher Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSEmonthly>0.55), while APHRODITE_V1901 (NSEmonthly>0.53) performed fairly well in the GbGPPs category with closer agreements with observed streamflow. In addition, the CMORPH precipitation product has not performed well in capturing observed rainfall and subsequently in simulating streamflow (NSEmonthly<0) of the HBS. Furthermore, MSWEP and CHIRPS products have performed fairly well during calibration; however, they showcased a lowered performance for validation. Therefore, the results suggest that accurate precipitation data is the major governing factor in streamflow modeling performances. The research outcomes would capture the interest of all stakeholders, including farmers, meteorologists, agriculturists, river basin managers, and hydrologists for potential applications in the tropical humid regions of the world. Moreover, 3B42 and APHRODITE_V1901 precipitation products show promising prospects for the tropical humid regions of the world for hydrologic modeling and climatological studies.