A multi-scale daily SPEI dataset for drought characterization at observation stations over mainland China from 1961 to 2018

Abstract. The monthly standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) can be used to monitor and assess drought characteristics with 1-month or longer duration. Based on data from 1961 2018 at 427 meteorological stations across mainland China, we developed a daily SPEI dataset overcome the shortcoming of coarse temporal scale SPEI. Our not only identify start end dates events, but also investigate meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, socioeconomic droughts different timescales. In present study, 3-month (about 90 d) timescale were taken as demonstration example analyze spatial distribution changes in conditions for China. showed no obvious intensifying trends terms severity, duration, frequency events 2018. serves unique resource resolution variety research communities including meteorology, geography, natural hazard studies. is free, open, publicly available this study. via figshare portal (Wang et al., 2020c), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12568280.Highlights. A multi-scale was China days event. study available.