Introduction

• Principles
• Workshop

IBTrACS Data

• Current release
• Parameters
• Formats & samples
• Access
• WMS, shapefiles & KML
• Statistics
• Previous versions

IBTrACS Imagery

• Annual maps of tracks
• Interactive Track Maps
• Misc. Images

Processing

• Cyclone identification
• Combining data
• Quality control

Data Sources

• Original data

FAQ

Bibliography

Contact

Registration

To be notified of new releases, data set errors and other important information about IBTrACS, users are strongly urged to send a request to be added to the IBTrACS users list to the following email address:

IBTrACS.Manager [at] noaa.gov

Caveats

• BUGS - Some errors have been found in the current version of the dataset. Users should check the status page to determine if the correction files should be used instead of those files available below.
• Due to the disparity between storm positions prior to 1970, some tracks during that period may not be properly merged.
• Due to the disparities in time between sources, some dates and times were changed in one source to match another. However, it is not clear which source had the correct time or date. From the original 16,539 storm tracks, 255 required time adjustments.

Data set index

• IBTrACS has been assigned NCDC data set index (DSI) 9637

Access

• When accessing numerous files simultaneously, files are tarred and gzipped to simplify downloads.
• Data files are available in the following ways:
  • By storm - Each storm is in a separate file.
  • All storms - All IBTrACS storms in one file.
  • Storms by basin - All IBTrACS storms for a particular basin (all years).
  • Storms by year - All IBTrACS storms for a particular year (all basins).
  • Storms by hemisphere - All IBTrACS storms for a hemisphere.
• A PDF file (24KB) describes the storm serial number convention.
• A cross referencing table is available which maps IBTrACS serial numbers to WMO storm names and other storm identification.