Cyclones getting fiercer

GS Paper 1

Source: DTE

Syllabus: Geography

Directions: This Article has been taken from Down to Earth and majorly talks about the impact of climate change on cyclone frequency. Go through it once, you can use it for value addition.

Context: Recently cyclonic storm Sitrang made an early landfall in Bangladesh causing a surprise among meteorologists.

Cyclone Sitrang:

Cyclone Sitrang rapidly doubling its pace and making an early landfall in Bangladesh has been termed as ‘unusual’ by meteorologists.

• Westerly winds might have played a role in the quickening of the cyclone system, which ultimately led to less destruction in West Bengal, India.

Changing characters of cyclones in India and how they are damaging more now

• Affected regions: An NDMI study found Cyclones affect 11 of India’s 36 states and Union territories.
  • There are 96 districts along the coasts officially declared cyclone-prone.
• More prone states: the Bay of Bengal is the theatre to more cyclones than the Arabian Sea.
  • Odisha endured the most cyclones (20) more recently (2006-20) followed by West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
• Death: According to NDMI Study, Cyclones accounted for 48% of India’s overall human life loss due to climate-related disasters, followed by heat waves (26 per cent), 18 per cent due to floods and 8 per cent due to cold waves.
  • Odisha had the highest toll.
• Effect of climate change: Due to the increase in sea surface temperature and ocean heat content, the intensity of cyclones is increasing along Indian coasts.
  • Frequency is rising in the Arabian Sea and reducing in the Bay of Bengal, overall.
  • More severe cyclones: During 2000-2018, the frequency of severe cyclones has been increasing at the rate of 1 event per decade.

Insta Links

Prelims link.

• Cyclone and anticyclones
• Bomb Cyclone
• Difference between cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons.
• Favourable condition for the formation of tropical cyclones
• About Fujiwhara effect

Mains Links:

Q. Tropical cyclones are largely confined to the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? (UPSC CSE MAINS 2014)

Q. What is a tropical cyclone and how are they classified in the Atlantic-Northeastern Pacific Ocean region? Explain the mechanism ofthe formation of a tropical cyclone.