Evaluation of Error in IMERG Precipitation Estimates under Different Topographic Conditions and Temporal Scales over Mexico  
[PERSON]  
Department of Physics, University Centre for Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Y.G.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.F.-H.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.A.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J.M.M.) 1  
[PERSON]  
Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]; Tel. : +52-333-809-9524  
[PERSON]  
Department of Physics, University Centre for Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Y.G.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.F.-H.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.A.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J.M.M.) [PERSON]  
Department of Physics, University Centre for Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Y.G.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.F.-H.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.A.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J.M.M.) 1  
[PERSON]  
Department of Physics, University Centre for Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Y.G.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.F.-H.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.A.P. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J.M.M.) 1  
Footnote 1: email: +52-333-809-9524  
Footnote 2: email: +52-333-809-9524  
Footnote 3: email: +52-333-809-9524  
Footnote 4: email: +52  
The availability of this precipitation product brought the opportunity for these models verification at higher resolutions. However, the main problem with all new satellite precipitation products is the lack of evaluation and that they are not thoroughly tested for all regions. For example, [PERSON] et al. (2016) briefly analyzed the IMERG product and found an overall agreement with the previous TRMM data set. [PERSON] et al. (2016) mentioned that monthly and daily precipitation gauges were used to improve, at least in some regions, the biases that characterize the IMERG precipitation estimates. However, concerns regarding the quality of this data set at higher temporal resolutions still remain due to the relative novelty of the IMERG precipitation product. Other studies have been made worldwide that help improve our understanding of the IMERG precipitation product ([PERSON] et al., 2016; [PERSON] et al., 2016; [PERSON] et al., 2016). [PERSON] et al. (2016) assessed the GPM-IMERG final run against gauge data over four small regions in Iran, with diverse topography and climate conditions. They also compared IMERG with the ERA-Interim product from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and TRMM data and found that IMERG performed better for heavy, daily precipitation. [PERSON] et al. (2016) also compared IMERG with TRMM and gauge data at a three-hourly scale over the Tibetan Plateau and found that IMERG performed better for light and solid precipitation at higher elevations than TRMM. [PERSON] et al. (2016) compared IMERG against gauge-adjusted radar rainfall data at different time scales over the relatively flat terrains of the Netherlands. An overall underestimation of the IMERG data and higher correlations with increasing time scales were found. Also, [PERSON] et al. (2016) provided a quantitative study of error characteristics of the IMERG over China. Here, it was found that this satellite product overestimates light rainfall events over arid areas. All this research focused its analysis on particular areas of interest. However, there is no study, to our current knowledge, that evaluates the IMERG precipitation dataset over the Mexican region. Mexico is a developing country which relies on a sparse rain-gauge network to provide the rainfall data needed to manage their water resources. Although these water resources are not scarce, they are not equally distributed throughout the region. In addition, Mexico figures as one of the twelve countries with the greatest biodiversity worldwide ([PERSON] et al., 2016). Therefore, the estimation and proper management of water resources is of great importance to the country.