Global Snow Drought Data Set - Standardized Snow Water Equivalent Index (SWEI)

This data set contains information about snow droughts (or deficits in snow water equivalent, SWE) and their characteristics (e.g., duration and intensity) across the globe. The snow drought information is derived using SWE from a global reanalysis over 1980-2018, which was standardized using methods described in Huning and AghaKouchak (2020a). We provide the 3-month standardized snow drought index (SWEI) fields used to characterize and monitor snow droughts in the NetCDF4 (classic) format. Changes in snow drought characteristics for seven study regions around the world: the western United States, Europe, Hindu Kush and Central Asia, greater Himalayas, eastern Russia, extratropical Andes, and Patagonia are also provided.For more information about the standardized SWE index (SWEI), refer to Huning and AghaKouchak (2020a).This data set provides one SWEI file for each study year. The following data flags/codes are used in the SWEI files:FillValue: 9.9692e+36 (No data, i.e., missing value.)MissingValue: Same as FillValueNoSnowPermValue: -999 (No SWEI value is ever assigned to the grid cell. Refer to Huning and AghaKouchak (2020a).)NoSnowTempValue: -888 (SWEI value not assigned to the grid cell during this time of the year. Refer to Huning and AghaKouchak (2020a).)As a condition of using data from this collection, you must cite this data set/collection and the corresponding publication: 1) Huning, L.S., and AghaKouchak, A. (2020b): Global Snow Drought Data Set, figshare, Collection, https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5055179.2) Huning, L.S., and AghaKouchak, A. (2020a): Global Snow Drought Hot Spots and Characteristics, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(33), 19753-19759, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1915921117.