From DataNSW
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NSW Aridity Index - High resolution (30 meter)

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 13/11/2025

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The aridity index, also known as the Budyko radiative index of dryness, is a dimensionless parameter that represents the long-term balance between net radiation and precipitation. The method used to generate the high-resolution aridity index layer across New South Wales was developed by Nyman et al., 2014. To create the high-resolution (30 m) aridity index layer for New South Wales, the following parameters were used: 1 arc second monthly net radiation and shortwave radiation ratio, 30 years of historical data encompassing precipitation and surface temperature from the period 1992 to 2021, 30-meter Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model, and 30-meter Leaf Area Index layer which provides insights into the density and distribution of vegetation across the region. The aridity index layer is a high-resolution dataset that allows identification of finer-scale variations in local moisture balance related to aspect unlike existing aridity index layers. This dataset serves as a valuable tool for understanding and managing water resources, assessing environmental conditions, and informing decision-making in a wide range of applications related to water management, land use, and climate change adaptation. The Aridity Index factsheet provides more information about the method and some potential application of the layer.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title NSW Aridity Index - High resolution (30 meter)
Language English
Licence Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/7d907f54-38fd-4510-b2cd-3320ba429496
Remote Last Updated 23/10/2025
Contact Point
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
?datansw@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
Reference Period 01/01/1992 - 31/12/2021
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        141,
        -37.7
      ],
      [
        141,
        -28
      ],
      [
        154,
        -28
      ],
      [
        154,
        -37.7
      ],
      [
        141,
        -37.7
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal DataNSW

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on DataNSW "NSW Aridity Index - High resolution (30 meter)". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://data.nsw.gov.au/data/dataset/nsw-nsw-aridity-index-high-resolution-30-meter