Northern Hemisphere Cyclone Track Record from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis

NSIDCV0 provides a 58-year record of daily extratropical cyclone statistics for the Northern Hemisphere. Cyclone locations and characteristics were derived by applying the updated Serreze (1997) algorithm to six-hourly Sea Level Pressure data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis. This dataset offers a long-term, model-assimilated view of cyclone activity.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the frequency and intensity of Northern Hemisphere cyclones over a multi-decadal period.
• Tracking the geographic paths and sea-level pressure characteristics of individual storm systems.
• Investigating relationships between cyclone activity and broader climate patterns using reanalysis data.
• Validating or comparing cyclone detection algorithms against the established Serreze method.

Strengths

• Provides a 58-year temporal record, enabling analysis of long-term trends and variability.
• Data is derived from the authoritative NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, which assimilates observations from a wide variety of sensors.
• Algorithm (updated Serreze 1997) provides a consistent methodology for cyclone identification across the entire time series.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and complete column schema are not specified on the available platforms.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2026-03 12 and 2016-12-31), creating uncertainty about recent maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Reanalysis data set.

Collection Method

Cyclone statistics computed by applying the updated Serreze (1997) algorithm to daily Sea Level Pressure data at six-hour intervals.

Time Range

58 years

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:13:44.212343

Geography

Northern Hemisphere