Identification of cyclone‐track regimes in the North Atlantic

Abstract

Abstract A Langrangian‐type climatology of North Atlantic cyclones is established based on the high‐resolution European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts data‐set of the 1000 hPa height‐field. First, an algorithm is introduced to identify mid‐latitude cyclones and cyclone paths with as few constraints as possible. Cluster analysis of relative cyclone displacements yields three types of cyclone tracks characterizing stationary‐, north‐eastward‐and zonally‐travelling storms. the internal Lagrangian statistics of these cyclone‐track types reveal representative life‐cycles for central pressure and geopotential‐height gradients and a power‐law scaling behaviour of cyclone displacements. Finally, a basic climatology of North Atlantic cyclone‐track regimes is deduced in terms of a time‐series and circulation statistics.