SPEIbase: a global 0.5º gridded SPEI data base (plain text)

All currently available gridded drought datasets at continental and global scales are based on either the PDSI or the sc-PDSI. A new global drought dataset based on the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) has been developed, which covers time scales from 1-48 months at a spatial resolution of 0.5°, and provides temporal coverage for the period 1901-2006. This dataset represents an improvement in spatial resolution and operative capability of previous gridded drought datasets based on the PDSI, and enables identification of various drought types.