Integrated Dataset of Drought Characteristics in Central Asia (1982–2020)

This study constructed a drought characteristic dataset for the Central Asia region based on the global Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) dataset (1982–2020) developed by the University of East Anglia. By extracting SPEI data at 1–12 month time scales to characterize short-term, medium-term, and long-term drought dynamics. Meanwhile, comprehensive quality control and consistency assessments were applied to both the original SPEI data and derived drought indices to ensure their reliability and applicability. We identified drought events and extracted their features using run theory. Key parameters, including Drought Duration (DD), Drought Severity (DS), Drought Intensity (DI), and Drought Peak (DP), were quantified. Furthermore, regional drought indicators such as Annual Drought Frequency (ADF), Mean Drought Duration (MDD), Mean Drought Severity (MDS), Mean Drought Intensity (MDI), and Mean Drought Peak (MDP) were calculated. The dataset features a spatial resolution of 0.05°×0.05°, offering robust data support for analyzing spatiotemporal drought patterns, identifying extreme drought events, and assessing climate change adaptation in Central Asia.