The Noncontiguous Rain-Gauge Method: A Working Guide to Verifying Satellite Rainfall Estimates from Sparse Point Gauges

This technical monograph presents the Noncontiguous Rain-Gauge Method (NCR) for constructing a gauge-derived areal rainfall reference distribution from sparse point rain gauges. The method addresses the support mismatch between point gauges and satellite areal rainfall estimates by combining spatial-correlation modeling, point-to-area variance conversion, Gaussian-score transformation, Hermite representation of skewed rainfall distributions, and a finite-bin correction for satellite-predictor classes. The guide develops the statistical argument, gives reproducible synthetic examples, and presents a tropical Pacific case study modeled on Micronesian gauge geometry. The intended audience is satellite-rainfall researchers, hydrologists, meteorologists, climate-data analysts, and graduate students working on environmental verification problems.