Evaluation of Remotely Sensed Precipitation Estimates from the NASA POWER Project for Drought Detection Over Jordan

Droughts can cause devastating impacts on water and land resources therefore monitoring these events forms an integral part of planning. The most common approach for detecting drought assessing their intensity is use the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), which requires abundant precipitation records at good spatial distribution. This may restrict SPI usage in many regions around world, particularly areas with limited numbers ground meteorological stations. Therefore, remotely sensed derived data contribute to monitoring. In this study, estimates from POWER/Agroclimatology archive NASA different time intervals were evaluated against gauged observations 13 stations arid semiarid locations Jordan. Results showed significant correlations between relatively high R values (0.67–0.91), where seasonal exceeded 50 mm/year. For evaluation calculation, several objective functions used; results that based satellite (SAT-SPI) performance extreme droughts indicating wet/dry conditions. However, SAT-SPI tendency overestimate intensity. Based findings, potential provision careful interpretation data. These types studies are essential evaluating applicability new information tools support decision-making relevant scales.