A database for the outer sizes of tropical cyclones over the Middle Americas.

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are catastrophic phenomena that constantly threaten populations settled in the tropics. Their direct effects (strong winds, storm surges, and intense precipitation) are confined near the TC center. On the other hand, the indirect effects are due to extreme rainfall events associated with rainbands distant from the TC center. Diverse TC-size definitions do not consider these indirect effects, although these definitions are used for disaster risk reduction strategies. Risk management based on TC size needs an appropriate definition of TC hazards for adequately planning early actions. Here, we developed two algorithms, Radius of the Outermost CLOUD (ROCLOUD) and Radius of Precipitation Band (RPB), to define outer TC sizes using the HURDAT data, GPM satellite imagery, and a radial wind profile. We analyzed 191 and 336 TCs over the North Atlantic and the Eastern North Pacific basins, respectively, during the 2000-2020 period. We create a database for outer TC sizes that presents 6-hourly information during the TC lifetime, from pre-cyclonic to decaying states. This database also provides the TC location, TC outer sizes defined by the two algorithms, and TC shape metrics (asymmetry, dispersion and solidity) every 6 h. The database is freely available in a text format at Mendeley data [1]. We present statistics for the four quadrant radii and mean radius defined by the ROCLOUD and RBP algorithms and the shape metrics. We expect this database can be useful to Early Warning Systems for Tropical Cyclones and regional risk management studies in the Middle Americas.