Global Cyclone Hazard Frequency, Distribution, and Risks, 1980-2000

This data set is part of the Natural Disaster Hotspots Collection of global geospatial data of six major natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods, drought, and cyclones). It provides a 2.5 minute grid representing spatial coverage of more than 1,600 storm tracks for the period 1 January 1980 through 31 December 2000 for the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans that were assembled and modeled at UNEP/GRID-Geneva PreView. Windspeeds around storm tracks were modeled using Holland's model (1997) to assess the grid cells likely to have been exposed to high wind levels. Post-modeling, the cells were divided into deciles, 10 classes consisting of approximately equal number of grid cells. The higher the value of the grid cell, the higher the decile ranking and the greater the frequency of the hazard relative to other cells. Also included are 2.5 minute grids representing the associated risks of mortality and economic loss from these hazards. Risk levels are estimated by combining hazard exposure with historical vulnerability for two indicators of elements at risk (gridded population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per unit area) for each of the six natural disaster hazards. The risk levels are conveyed at sub-national scales and can be used to inform a range of disaster prevention and preparedness measures, including prioritization of resources, targeting of more localized and detailed risk assessments, implementation of risk-based disaster management and emergency response strategies, and development of long-term land-use plans and multi-hazard risk management strategies.