A dataset of desertification indices in Central Asia from 1982 to 2020

<p indent="0mm">Desertification is one of the most serious ecological and environmental issues worldwide, severely hindering global economic growth. Identifying the development trends of desertification and revealing its dynamic changes have become extremely important for desertification research. This paper selects the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and surface albedo as indicators for desertification monitoring. Based on the Albedo-NDVI feature space, the desertification difference index (DDI) was calculated for Central Asia from 1982 to 2020, with different levels of desertification classified. To assess the quality and accuracy of DDI dataset, high–resolution Google Earth images and ESA CCI land cover change data were used for validation. Using data from the year 2000, 2010 and 2020 as examples, the overall accuracy reached 81.33%, with a Kappa coefficient of 76.60%. The DDI of land degradation areas showed a significant decreasing trend from 1992 to 2020. This dataset provides reliable data support for quantitatively assessing desertification risks in Central Asia, offering valuable insights for desertification prevention and control work, as well as macro decision–making in countries along the Belt and Road.