Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cyclone Biparjoy
Mains level: Naming of cyclone
![Cyclone Biparjoy](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cyclone.jpg)
Central Idea: A cyclonic storm, named Biparjoy, has developed in the Arabian Sea.
Cyclone Biparjoy
- It was stationed about 850 km west of Goa and 900 km southwest of Mumbai.
- The cyclone is predicted to gain in strength over the next three days and develop into a very severe cyclonic storm by June 13.
- It would result in squally weather with wind speeds reaching 35-45 kmph along the coastline of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra
- The IMD has not yet predicted any major impact on countries adjoining the Arabian Sea, including India, Oman, Iran, and Pakistan.
How it was named?
- Origin of Cyclone Biparjoy’s Name: ‘Biparjoy’ was suggested by Bangladesh and the word means ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’ in Bengali. The next cyclone after Biparjoy will be named ‘Tej’ based on India’s suggestion.
- Rotational Basis for Naming: The naming of cyclones is done by countries on a rotational basis, following certain existing guidelines.
- Responsibilities of RSMCs and TCWCs: Worldwide, there are six regional specialized meteorological centers (RSMCs) and five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming of tropical cyclones.
- IMD’s Role: IMD is one of the six RSMCs providing tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under the WMO/Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) Panel.
- Naming Authority of IMD: RSMC, New Delhi, is also mandated to name the tropical cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- Guidelines for Naming: Some rules are to be followed while naming cyclones, such as being neutral to politics, religious beliefs, cultures, and gender, avoiding offensive or cruel names, and keeping the name short and easy to pronounce.
- Next Cyclone Name: After Bangladesh, the next cyclone will be named ‘Tej’ based on India’s suggestion.
Cyclones in the Arabian Sea: A quick recap
- Frequency of Cyclones: It is not rare for cyclones to develop in the Arabian Sea. There are fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal, but it is not uncommon.
- Favorable Months: June is one of the favorable months for the formation of cyclones in the Arabian Sea.
- Factors Influencing Cyclone Formation: Cyclones form due to low-pressure systems over warm waters. The Bay of Bengal is slightly warmer, but the Arabian Sea is also getting warmer due to climate change, leading to an increase in cyclones.
- Coriolis Effect and Weather Systems: In a depression or low-pressure situation, the air blows in an anticlockwise direction in the northern hemisphere, influenced by the Coriolis Effect.
Role of Climate Change
- Historical data indicates that the frequency of extremely severe cyclonic storms has increased over the Arabian Sea since 1990, while it has remained the same over the Bay of Bengal.
- A 2021 study highlighted the increasing intensity, frequency, and duration of cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea.
- The warming is indicated by the nearly tripled accumulated cyclone energy, reflecting the extent of warming in recent years.
Back2Basics:
Tropical Cyclones | |
Definition | Intense circular storm over warm oceans with low pressure, high winds, and heavy rain. |
Formation Conditions | Warm sea surface temperatures, anticlockwise rotation of low-level air, favorable atmospheric conditions. |
Conducive Periods | April-May and October-December. |
Movement and Moisture | Cyclones move northwest, gather moist air, and intensify. |
Requirements for Cyclogenesis | Warm sea temperatures, atmospheric instability, high humidity, Coriolis force, low-level disturbance, low vertical wind shear. |
Sea temperatures | Temperature of at least 28°C. |
Atmospheric instability | Allows vertical air movement. |
Role of Coriolis Force | Required for low-pressure center formation. |
Low vertical wind shear | Maintains cyclone structure. |
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