GHM_drought: A global dataset of multiple meteorological drought indices for 1961–2100

1. Description Dataset name: GHM_drought Summary: The GHM_drought dataset is a new Global Meteorological Drought Dataset at 0.5° spatial resolution for the period 1961–2100, derived from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) dataset and 16 bias-corrected Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. This dataset calculates Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI), and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) based on a unified framework, ensuring consistency and comparability among the indices. Additionally, the dataset provides multiple accumulation timescales (1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months, and 1 year) and multiple scenarios, including historical (1961–2024) and future Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios (2025–2100) (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5). Crucially, the dataset provides uncertainty ranges for future projections to enhance reliability. Validation results demonstrate that the GHM_drought captures historical drought events robustly and maintains high consistency with existing benchmark datasets. For future projections, the applied threshold-based quantile mapping method effectively corrects systematic biases, substantially reducing uncertainty and revealing a significant global drying trend. The GHM_drought aids global drought monitoring and projection, thereby supporting climate risk assessment and adaptation. Latest version: Version 1 (Jan. 10, 2026) 2. Content of the dataset This dataset comprises the following three types of data: (1) SPI_{accumulation timescale}.zip: Each timescale zip file contains 6 Standardized Precipitation Index datasets in NetCDF format, comprising 3 scenarios (Historical+SSP1-2.6, Historical+SSP2-4.5, and Historical+SSP5-8.5) × 2 data types (index values and uncertainty ranges). (2) EDDI_{accumulation timescale}.zip: Each timescale zip file contains 6 Evaporative Demand Drought Index datasets in NetCDF format, comprising 3 scenarios (Historical+SSP1-2.6, Historical+SSP2-4.5, and Historical+SSP5-8.5) × 2 data types (index values and uncertainty ranges). (3) SPEI_{accumulation timescale}.zip: Each timescale zip file contains 6 Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index datasets in NetCDF format, comprising 3 scenarios (Historical+SSP1-2.6, Historical+SSP2-4.5, and Historical+SSP5-8.5) × 2 data types (index values and uncertainty ranges). 3. Details of the variables in the file Each index value NetCDF file contains the following four variables: (1) lat: Latitude dimension, measured in degrees (°). (2) lon: Longitude dimension, measured in degrees (°). (3) time: Time dimension. (4) spi/eddi/spei: Drought index variable with dimensions (time, lat, lon). Each uncertainty range NetCDF file contains the following four variables: (1) lat: Latitude dimension, measured in degrees (°). (2) lon: Longitude dimension, measured in degrees (°). (3) time: Time dimension. (4) spi_std/eddi_std/spei_std: Inter-model standard deviation variable with dimensions (time, lat, lon). 4. Examples of utilization The NetCDF files can be accessed and processed using various software tools, including GIS applications such as ArcGIS Pro, visualization tools like Panoply, and programming libraries such as xarray in Python.