Water availability calculated with satellite precipitation data as an alternative in basins with limited instrumentation in the Northeast of Mexico

Abstract The spatial and temporal scarcity of rainfall data in a basin represents a considerable challenge when calculating the amount of water available to satisfy human activities, while generating various problems in the management of the resource. In this work a methodology to investigate the performance of satellite precipitation data in the determination of available water in the Soto la Marina River basin (Tamaulipas, Mexico). The dataset extracted from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) was quantitatively compared against the observed rainfall records obtained from the mete-orological stations, GPM was determined to be an adequately representative data source for this type of study in the basin. In addition, a model was generated that included input from precipitation and output from the use of water for agriculture, industry, human consumption, ecological spending and exports to neighboring basins. The generated hydrological model presents a coefficient of determination close to 89%, so it can be concluded that it is adequate for estimating the availability of water in the basin for anthropogenic activities. Therefore, its spatial nature, explicitness, and the reliability obtained can serve as a better resource management tool; that is very useful at sites limited o lacking meteorological data.