Track dataset of four regional varieties of South Asian monsoon low-pressure systems

This dataset contains tracks and intensities of four regional varieties of South Asian monsoon low-pressure systems (LPSs), as identified in ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset. A feature-tracking algorithm (Hunt et al., 2016; 2018), which is based on identifying and linking track points featuring 850 hPa relative vorticity maximum, is used to identify LPSs. A k-means clustering technique is then used to group LPSs into four LPS varieties (Hunt and Fletcher, 2019). Only those LPSs, which had their genesis during June–September 1979–2018 are retained in this dataset. LPSs in this dataset include monsoon low-pressure areas, depressions and deep depressions. The temporal resolution of ERA-Interim is six-hourly. A full description of four regional LPS varieties can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.3997

Files 

• arabian.csv: contains track details of LPSs occurring over the Arabian Sea
• bob_long.csv: contains track details of long-lived LPSs that propagate over India after their genesis over the head of the Bay of Bengal and nearby coastal regions
• bob_short.csv: contains track details of short-lived LPSs that propagate over India after their genesis over the head of the Bay of Bengal and nearby coastal regions  
• srilankan.csv: contains track details of LPSs occurring over Sri Lanka and adjoining parts of the Bay of Bengal

      Columns: 

• time: a time stamp showing when an LPS was present
• lon: the longitude of an LPS at a given time step
• lat: the latitude of an LPS at a given time step
• candidate_id: a random identity number for each LPS  
• vort: the 850 hPa relative vorticity at the centre of an LPS at a given time step

For further details, contact Dr Kieran M. R. Hunt (k.m.r.hunt@reading.ac.uk) or Akshay Deoras (deorasakshay@gmail.com).