Methodology
This data set is the aridity index (AI), which is calculated as the ratio of mean annual precipitation to mean annual potential evapotranspiration (PET), using data from the WorldClim Global Climate Database. The yearly precipitation values are available directly from the WorldClim database, and the PET values are derived from a selection of WorldClim variables. PET is a measure of the rate at which water evaporates from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere.
Data description
The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research Consortium for Spatial Information (CGIAR-CSI) supported the development of the Global-Aridity Database. This database is designed for use in models of sustainable development, biodiversity and environmental conservation, poverty alleviation, and adaption to climate change globally, in particular in developing countries, and provides data for each month between 1970 and 2000 at a spatial resolution of 30 arc seconds.
Indicator
Water quality
Method / tool
Toolkit for Ecosystem Service SiteBased Assessment (TESSA)