ABSTRACT High‐resolution precipitation products (e.g., km‐scale and hourly) are essential for capturing extreme rainfall dynamics and improving hydrological models for flood forecasting and related applications. However, single‐source estimates—whether from gauges, radar, or satellites—suffer from inherent limitations such as sparse spatial coverage, limited observational extent, and retrieval uncertainties. Multi‐source precipitation combinations can potentially provide a more accurate estimate by using the strengths of each source. This review presents globally relevant methodologies for constructing high‐resolution precipitation datasets, with a focus on sub‐daily temporal and km‐scale spatial resolutions. Particular emphasis is placed on their applicability to the development of a new multi‐source precipitation dataset for Australia (BRAIN: Blended Rain). We first compile and assess precipitation data sources specific to Australia, particularly those readily available to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. These include ground‐based gauge observations, radar estimates, satellite‐derived products, reanalysis datasets, and numerical weather prediction outputs. While the primary emphasis is on Australian datasets, many sources provide global coverage, enhancing the broader relevance of this work. We then review globally applicable blending techniques, highlighting methods such as weighted averaging, multifractal blending, data assimilation, and machine learning. Key challenges, including latency, quality control, spatial heterogeneity, and validation, are discussed alongside opportunities for advancing multi‐source precipitation blending. Finally, we recommend specific datasets and blending methods for trial and assessment, considering both current Australian data availability and potential future upgrades. The insights provided aim to support the development of robust high‐resolution precipitation products for hydrological applications in Australia and other regions with similar data integration challenges. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Methods
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.