Global_AI_PET / Future_Global AI_PET

Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapotranspiration Database

The Global Aridity Index and Potential Evapotranspiration (Global AI-PET) Database provides high-resolution global geospatial raster data related to evapotranspiration processes and rainfall deficit for potential vegetative growth. These datasets are expected to support and have utility for studies contributing to sustainable development, biodiversity and environmental conservation, poverty alleviation, and adaption to climate change, particularly relevant in the support of agronomic crop and yield modeling, and other ecological or bioclimatic modeling. Two databases are available:

The Global_AI_PET (v.3) Database provides high-resolution (30 arc-seconds) global geospatial raster data of average monthly and annual potential evapotransipation (PET) and an aridity index (AI) based on the implementation of the accepted reference standard FA0-56 Penman-Monteith Reference Evapotranspiration (ET0) equation for the 1970-2000 historical time period.

The Future_Global_AI_PET Database provides high-resolution (30 arc-seconds) global geospatial raster data of average monthly and annual potential evapotransipation (PET) and an aridity index (AI) for two historical (1960-1990; 1970-2000) and two future (2021-2040; 2041-2060) time periods for each of 22 CMIP6 Earth System Models across four emission scenarios (SSP: 126, 245, 370, 585). The database also includes three averaged multi-model ensembles produced for each of four emission scenarios. All are based upon an implementation of the less data intensive Hargreaves equation.

These datasets are based on modeling and analyses by Dr. Robert Zomer and Dr. Antonio Trabucco at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, with the support of Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, IAFES Division; Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science; CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC).

Previous support was provided by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the CGIAR-CSI Consortium for Spatial Information (CGIAR-CSI) , the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and the Center for Mountain Ecosystem Studies (CMES), Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Global_PET_AI Databases are provided under a CC_BY 4.0 License (give attribution) , in standard GeoTiff format, WGS84 Geographic Coordinate System, 30 arc seconds or approx. 1km at the equator, to support studies contributing to sustainable development, biodiversity and environmental conservation, poverty alleviation, and adaption to climate change, among other global, regional, national, and local concerns.