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

NCDC GIS Portal

Visit the NCDC GIS data portal for the most up-to-date information on the WMS, WFS and KML capabilities of the IBTrACS data set.
IBTrACS data is available under "Current Events: Hurricanes" or here.

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Line layer

The line layer consists of the lines extracted from the point layer (see below).

Line-layer caveats

• Storms with only one location (that is, one reported position) can not define a line, so they were dropped from the line-layer
• The geospatial server does not allow lines to cross the dateline. Storm segments crossing the dateline were removed.
• Lines need to have the same attributes for the entire line. Thus, very limited storm attributes are available for each line. Users should access the point data for the time varying storm attributes (central pressure, sustained wind, etc.)
• Due to limits of line attributes, only the maximum intensity attained by each storm is available and shaded for each storm

Line-layer services

A shapefile (1.9 MB) of the line layer is available via FTP.

WMS

Sample WMS GetCapabilities request: Click here

Sample WMS GetMap request (same as image above): Click here

The WMS service allows the use of Styled Layer Descriptors (SLD). This allows the data to be filtered. We have developed an interactive display to allow custom filters.

KML

After clicking the link below :

1. Enter a Document Name,
2. Select Layers [optional - if you select none, both will be included],
3. Choose the last "Layer Option": Vector layers as vectors and raster layers as images.
4. Click Generate KML button.
5. Open in Google Earth.

Note: tested with Google Earth Pro 4.3.7284.3916 (beta).
http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/rest/services/ibtracs/tracks/MapServer/generateKml

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Point Layer

IBTrACS data was converted to OGC point layer data. These point data are voluminous (more than 220,000 points each with more than 30 attributes per point), so a line layer was created to facilitate creating maps of the data.

Point-layer caveats

• Points of the storm located directly on the dateline were dropped from the point layer as such data are not allowed by the geospatial server.

Point-layer services

A shapefile (8.8 MB) of the point layer is available via FTP.

WMS

Sample example WMS GetCapabilities request: Click here

Sample WMS GetMap of IBTrACS points for 2008: Click here.

KML

After clicking the link below :

1. Enter a Document Name,
2. Select Layers [optional - if you select none, both will be included],
3. Choose the last "Layer Option": Vector layers as vectors and raster layers as images.
4. Click Generate KML button.
5. Open in Google Earth.

Note: tested with Google Earth Pro 4.3.7284.3916 (beta).
http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/rest/services/ibtracs/points/MapServer/generateKml

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More information

For more information on OGC services at NCDC, visit http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov.