| Summary: | Dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Core GPM satellite provides spaceborne three-dimensional observations of precipitation fields and surface rainfall rate with quasi-global coverage. The present study evaluates the behavior of liquid precipitation intensity, radar reflectivity factor (Z<sub>Ku</sub> and Z<sub>Ka</sub>) and drop size distribution (DSD) parameters (weighted mean diameter D<sub>m</sub> and intercept parameter N<sub>w</sub>) of the GPM DPR-derived products, version 07, from 2014 to 2023. Observations from seven Parsivel disdrometers located in different topographic zones in the Western Mediterranean are taken as ground references. Four matching techniques between satellite estimates and ground level observations were tested, and the best results were found for the so-called optimal comparison approach. Overall, GPM DPR products captured the variability of the observed DSD well at different rainfall intensities. However, overestimation of the mean D<sub>m</sub> and underestimation of the mean N<sub>w</sub> were observed, being much more sensitive to errors in drop diameters larger than 1.5 mm. Moreover, the lowest errors were found for radar reflectivity factor and D<sub>m</sub>, and the highest for N<sub>w</sub> and rainfall rate. In addition, the GPM DPR convective and stratiform classification was tested, and a substantial overestimation of stratiform cases compared to disdrometer observations were found.
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