A new, objective, database of East Coast Lows

Abstract

East Coast Lows (ECL), strong low pressure systems off the east coast of Australia, can cause severe rain and flooding in this highly-populated region, in addition to strong winds, heavy seas and coastal erosion. While some databases of such events have been previously compiled, this paper discusses a new database developed using an objective low tracking scheme and MSLP reanalysis data between 1950 and 2008, which can be maintained and updated with relative ease on an ongoing basis. The database is verified in comparison to previous subjective ECL analyses, with a particular focus on detection of ECLs associated with significant wind and rain events, and used to develop a climatology of ECLs between 1950 and 2008.