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Records dating back more than 700 years are being used by a
student from the RMIT in Melbourne to create a computer database of tropical
cyclones in regions around Australia, Asia and India. Natalie Blanchard is
creating the archive for the Bureau of Meteorology. According to the bureau,
knowing what types of extreme events have occurred in the past will help
meteorologists predict possible future cyclonic events and their impacts. The
oldest reference found so far by Blanchard is from 1258 when a Mongol battle
fleet sailing to invade Japan was destroyed by a typhoon. People who hold
diaries, illustrations, memorabilia or other material relating to cyclones can
contact Blanchard via the National Meteorological Library, GPO Box 1289K,
Melbourne, VIC 3001, or by email n.blanchard@bom.gov.au.