On developing a tropical cyclone archive and climatology for the South Indian and South Pacific oceans

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are the most dangerous and damaging weather phenomena to regularly affect countries in the South Indian (SIO) and the South Pacific (SPO) Oceans. The year-to-year impact varies, and historical records demonstrate significant interannual variability in TC frequency and spatial distribution of TC tracks. Additionally, the climate is changing on a global scale (IPCC 2007) and it is important to understand how a warmer climate may affect TC activity. Numerous studies on TC activity in various regions of the northern and southern hemispheres have been completed with the aim of developing TC climatologies and establishing driving forces behind TC temporal and spatial variability. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.