articleJournal of ClimateNov 19, 2009BRONZE OA

A Multiscalar Drought Index Sensitive to Global Warming: The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index

SMSergio M. Vicente‐SerranoSBSantiago Beguerı́aJIJuan Ignacio López‐Moreno

Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología · Estación Experimental de Aula Dei

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Abstract

Abstract The authors propose a new climatic drought index: the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The SPEI is based on precipitation and temperature data, and it has the advantage of combining multiscalar character with the capacity to include the effects of temperature variability on drought assessment. The procedure to calculate the index is detailed and involves a climatic water balance, the accumulation of deficit/surplus at different time scales, and adjustment to a log-logistic probability distribution. Mathematically, the SPEI is similar to the standardized precipitation index (SPI), but it includes the role of temperature. Because the SPEI is based on a water balance, it can be…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Evapotranspiration
  • Precipitation
  • Environmental science
  • Climatology
  • Index (typography)
  • Water balance
  • Global warming
  • Climate change
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Climate action
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