Global model of cyclone wind 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 years return period

The historical tropical cyclones used in GAR15 cyclone wind and storm surge model are from five different oceanic basins: Northeast Pacific, Northwest Pacific, South Pacific, North Indian, South Indian and North Atlantic and the tracks were obtained from the IBTrACS database (Knapp et al. 2010). This database represents the repository of information associated with tropical cyclones that is the most up to date. Topography was taken from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of NASA, which provides terrain elevation grids at a 90 meters resolution, delivered by quadrants over the world. To account for surface roughness, polygons of urban areas worldwide were obtained from the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Centre, SEDAC (CIESIN et al., 2011). This was considered a good proxy of the spatial variation of surface roughness. A digital bathymetry model is employed with a spatial resolution of 30 arc-seconds, taken from the GEBCO_08 (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Grid Database of the British Oceanographic Data Centre (2009). Bathymetry is the information about the underwater floor of the ocean having direct influence on the formation of the storm surge. More information about the cyclone wind and strom surge hazard can be found in CIMNE et al., 2015a. Hazard analysis was performed using the software CAPRA Team Tropical Cyclones Hazard Modeler (Bernal, 2014). The vulnerability models used in the risk calculation for GAR correlate loss to the wind speed for 3-seconds gusts. For GAR15, the risk was calculated with the CAPRA-GIS platform which is risk modelling tool of the CAPRA suite (www.ecapra.org). The risk assessment was also conducted by CIMNE and Ingeniar to produced AAL and PML values for cyclone risk.

This dataset was generated using other global datasets; it should not be used for local applications (such as land use planning). The main purpose of GAR 2015 datasets is to broadly identify high risk areas at global level and for identification of areas where more detailed data should be collected. Some areas may be underestimated or overestimated. Given this analysis was conducted using global datasets, the resolution of which is not sufficient for in-situ planning, it should not be used for critical (like life saving) decisions. UNISDR and collaborators should in no case be liable for misuse or misinterpretation of the presented results. The designations employed and the presentation of material on the maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNISDR or the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.