Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapotranspiration (ET0) Database: Version 3

The Global Aridity Index (Global-AI) and Global Reference Evapo-Transpiration (Global-ET0) datasets provided in Version 3 of the Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapo-Transpiration (ET0) Database (Global-AI_PET_v3) provide high-resolution (30 arc-seconds) global raster data for the 1970-2000 period, related to evapotranspiration processes and rainfall deficit for potential vegetative growth, based upon implementation of the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith Reference Evapotranspiration (ET₀) equation.

Aridity Index represent the ratio between precipitation and ET₀, thus rainfall over vegetation water demand (aggregated on annual basis). Under this formulation, Aridity Index values increase for more humid conditions, and decrease with more arid conditions. The Aridity Index values reported within the Global-AI geodataset have been multiplied by a factor of 10,000 to derive and distribute the data as integers (with 4 decimal accuracy). This multiplier has been used to increase the precision of the variable values without using decimals. The Readme File is provided with a detailed description of the dataset files, and the following article for a description of the methodology and a technical validation.

The Global-AI_PET_v3 datasets are provided for non-commercial use in standard GeoTiff format, at 30 arc seconds or ~ 1km at the equator.

The Python programming source code used to run the calculation of ET0 and AI is provided and available online on Figshare at:

 

https://figshare.com/articles/software/Global_Aridity_Index_and_Potential_Evapotranspiration_Climate_Database_v3_-_Algorithm_Code_Python_/20005589

Peer-Review Reference and Proper Citation:

Zomer, R.J., Xu, J., Trabucco, A. 2022 Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapotranspiration (ET0) Database: Version 3. Scientific Data (In revision).