Global Daily Evapotranspiration Deficit Index (DEDI) dataset with a spatial resolution of 0.25° latitude by 0.25 longitude for the period of 1979–2020

DEDI is calculated based on daily actual evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration, deriving from ERA5 reanalysis data on a grid of 0.25°×0.25° for the period 1979–2020 provided by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).DEDI was applied to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of four drought events that occurred over Southwest, North, Northeast and eastern Northwest China in the spring and summer of 2019.

Comparisons with the operationally used Meteorological drought Composite Index (MCI) and another commonly used Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) indicate that, DEDI can reasonably well characterize the spatiotemporal evolutions of the four drought events and has the superiority in depicting the onset and ending time of drought event as well as the multiple peaks of drought intensity. Additionally, DEDI takes into account land surface conditions such as vegetation, which enables potential application not only on meteorological but also in agricultural drought monitoring and warning.NOTICE: We have reevaluated the daily DEDI index via using different metadata (i.e., ERA5 and GLEAM) and performing comparisons between the DEDI index and the other multiple indices (i.e., standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index, evaporative demand drought index, soil moisture, and vapor pressure deficit) over the global land during 1979–2022.