TC-ATLAS — Tropical Cyclone Analysis Tool for Live and Archived Structure — provides a comprehensive, multi-source platform for exploring tropical cyclone vortex structure. Developed by Dr. Michael Fischer (University of Miami) in collaboration with NOAA's Hurricane Research Division, TC-ATLAS enables researchers to conduct storm-to-storm comparisons and climatological analyses of TC vortex and convective characteristics across all stages of the tropical cyclone lifecycle.
Combines airborne Doppler radar, passive microwave and infrared satellite imagery, ERA5 reanalysis, flight-level data, and dropsonde profiles in a unified interactive environment.
Track active NOAA hurricane reconnaissance missions with live tail Doppler radar visualizations, flight-level observations, and environmental diagnostics as they happen.
Browse the complete IBTrACS record of tropical cyclones from 1842 to present with satellite imagery, intensity timelines, climatology, and multi-storm comparison tools.
The TC-RADAR dataset forms the backbone of TC-ATLAS, providing over 1,500 post-processed airborne Doppler radar analyses of tropical cyclones from 1997 to 2024. All analyses are mapped onto storm-centered grids at 2.0 km horizontal and 0.5 km vertical resolution, spanning 0–18 km in height.
Based on operational center position during the mission
Using WCM method at 2 km reference height
Recentered at every vertical level for tilt analysis
TC-RADAR consists of four netCDF files, grouped by data type and time period. Each file is approximately 10 GB.
Users are free to download TC-RADAR. However, we request that you notify Dr. Michael Fischer ([email protected]) and NOAA's Hurricane Research Division radar team lead, Dr. Paul Reasor ([email protected]), of the nature of your research project to ensure proper usage. Users should carefully examine data and apply additional QC consistent with their objectives.
Fischer, M. S., P. D. Reasor, R. F. Rogers, and J. F. Gamache, 2022: An Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Vortex and Convective Characteristics in Relation to Storm Intensity Using a Novel Airborne Doppler Radar Database. Mon. Wea. Rev., 150, 2255-2278, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-21-0223.1.
For vortex tilt analyses, also cite:
Fischer, M. S., P. D. Reasor, J. P. Dunion, and R. F. Rogers, 2024: An Observational Analysis of the Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Vortex Tilt, Precipitation Structure, and Intensity Change. Mon. Wea. Rev., 152, 203-225, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-23-0089.1.
TC-ATLAS integrates data from multiple publicly available datasets. We gratefully acknowledge the following data providers.
TC-PRIMED — Tropical Cyclone PRecipitation, Infrared, Microwave, and Environmental Dataset (NOAA/NESDIS & CSU/CIRA).
Razin, M. N., C. J. Slocum, J. A. Knaff, and P. J. Brown, 2023: Tropical Cyclone PRecipitation, Infrared, Microwave, and Environmental Dataset (TC PRIMED). V1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/dmy1-0595
GridSat-B1 — Geostationary IR Channel Brightness Temperature — Gridded Satellite Data (NOAA/NCEI CDR).
MergIR — NCEP/CPC L3 Half-Hourly Merged Global IR (NASA GES DISC).
GOES ABI — Real-time Band 13 (10.3 µm) imagery via the NOAA Open Data Dissemination Program.
ERA5 — ECMWF Reanalysis v5. Hersbach, H. et al., 2020. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 146, 1999–2049. doi:10.1002/qj.3803
IBTrACS — International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship, v04 (NOAA/NCEI). Knapp, K. R. et al., 2010. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 91, 363–376.
NOAA Aircraft Operations Center — Tail Doppler radar, flight-level, and dropsonde data from NOAA P-3 and G-IV reconnaissance missions, via the Systems Engineering Branch (SEB) archives.
TC-ATLAS is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the data providers listed above. All datasets are used in accordance with their respective open data policies.
Questions about TC-ATLAS? Contact the developer.
Dr. Michael Fischer
TC-ATLAS Developer · University of Miami
Please include details about your research project and intended use of the data.