ECMWF Storm Trajectories for UK, Atlantic, and Eastern USA

252 back trajectories launched at 900 mb from three regular grids centered over the UK, the mid-Atlantic storm track region, and eastern USA. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) produced this data using operational analyses interpolated onto a 1.5-degree grid. The dataset covers the period from 1979 to February 1999.

Use Cases

• Analyze storm track patterns over the UK using latitude and longitude coordinates from the 900 mb launch grid.
• Model atmospheric transport of aerosols using pressure-level data from trajectories launched at 700, 850, 950, and 1000 mb from instrument sites.
• Study seasonal variability in back trajectories using the 30-minute temporal resolution of latitude, longitude, and pressure outputs.
• Compare trajectory behavior across different pressure levels using the global dataset on 9 levels from 50 mb to 950 mb.
• Validate regional weather models using trajectory data from the mid-Atlantic storm track region grid.

Strengths

• 252 trajectories launched from three defined geographic grids.
• Data covers a 20-year period from 1979 to 1999.
• Trajectories include multiple pressure levels, from 50 mb to 1000 mb.
• During 1996-1997, trajectories were launched four times per day (00, 06, 12, 18).

Limitations

• No data beyond February 1999, making it temporally stale.
• Primary geographic focus is on the UK, Atlantic, and eastern USA, limiting global applicability.
• Sample data and column definitions are unavailable for inspection.

Provenance

Source

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)

Collection Method

Calculated using 6-hourly T106 operational analyses of wind components and surface pressure, interpolated onto a 1.5-degree grid.

Time Range

1979 to February 1999

Freshness

null

Geography

UK, mid-Atlantic storm track region, eastern USA, and a global 20x36 lat-long grid.