Africa Combined Drought Indicator: Monthly and Dekadal GeoTIFFs

The African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) provides this geospatial dataset of monthly and dekadal drought assessments across the African continent. It synthesizes rainfall-based indices and satellite vegetation metrics into a single categorical Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) using rule-based logic. The data is available in two distinct versions derived from GPCC and Era5 precipitation sources.

Use Cases

• Identifying drought-prone regions using the categorical CDI output levels
• Comparing drought signal sensitivity between GPCC-based and Era5-based precipitation models
• Integrating drought risk categories into regional early-warning bulletins for food security

Strengths

• Dual-model availability using both GPCC and Era5 precipitation data
• Rule-based convergence logic to minimize false alarms from isolated anomalies
• Harmonized gridded format for cross-border regional analysis

Limitations

• Simplified categorical outputs may not capture subtle drought nuances required for detailed impact assessments
• Reliance on satellite metrics due to sparse ground observation networks in many African regions

Provenance

Source

African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

Collection Method

Algorithmic synthesis of rainfall indices and satellite vegetation metrics

Freshness

Updated through March 2026 according to metadata.

Geography

Africa