CHIRPS Rainfall Data
CHIRPS provides global rainfall estimates from 1981-present at ~5km resolution, blending satellite data with station observations for drought monitoring and agricultural analysis.
Format
GeoTIFF / NetCDF
Geometry
Raster (precipitation grid)
Coverage
Global (50°S-50°N)
Resolution
0.05° (~5km)
About this dataset
Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data — global rainfall estimates from 1981 to present at 0.05° resolution.
CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data) is a quasi-global rainfall dataset spanning 50°S-50°N at 0.05° (~5km) resolution from 1981 to present. It blends satellite infrared data with in-situ station observations to produce consistent, bias-corrected precipitation estimates ideal for drought monitoring and agricultural planning.
How to download
- 1 Open the CHIRPS data directory from UC Santa Barbara.
- 2 Select the temporal resolution (daily, dekadal, monthly) and geographic extent.
- 3 Download the GeoTIFF or NetCDF files for your region and time period.
- 4 Open in QGIS or process with xarray for drought and rainfall analysis.
FAQ
What is the difference between CHIRPS and ERA5 precipitation?
CHIRPS focuses specifically on precipitation using infrared satellite data calibrated with station observations at ~5km resolution. ERA5 provides comprehensive reanalysis data including precipitation among many variables at ~31km. CHIRPS is better for fine-scale rainfall analysis; ERA5 for multi-variable weather reconstruction.
Is CHIRPS data available in near real-time?
Yes. CHIRPS provides preliminary real-time rainfall estimates within days, with improved products available on monthly and dekadal (10-day) timescales.