Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks and Intensity from 1848

IBTrACS provides the position, maximum sustained winds, minimum central pressure, and storm nature for every tropical cyclone globally at 6-hour intervals. The dataset spans from 1848 to the present and is synthesized from over 10 international forecast centers by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. Updates are performed semi-annually following the completion of Northern and Southern Hemisphere cyclone seasons.

Use Cases

• Analyze trends in cyclone intensity over time using the maximum sustained winds and minimum central pressure fields.
• Model cyclone track paths and predict landfall probabilities using the 6-hourly position data.
• Study global cyclone frequency and distribution by extracting storm nature and location features.
• Validate forecast models by comparing predicted tracks against the archived best track positions.
• Assess data consensus and uncertainty for specific events using the provided merge statistics like the number of centers tracking the storm.

Strengths

• Global coverage of all tropical cyclones from over 10 international forecast centers.
• Long temporal coverage from 1848 to the present, updated semi-annually.
• Provides standardized 6-hourly data points including position, wind speed, and pressure.

Limitations

• Version 1 is superseded; using it may lead to inconsistencies with newer, corrected data.
• Data quality and consistency may vary for earlier records (pre-satellite era) before 1966.
• The description does not specify the total row count or file size for assessment.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), synthesizing data from official Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers and WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers.

Collection Method

Merged and synthesized best track data from over 10 international forecast centers.

Time Range

1848 to present

Freshness

Updated semi-annually in boreal spring and autumn.

Geography

Global