Cyclone Remal

2. Derive energy from the evaporation of water from the ocean surface. (A tropical cyclone starts to weaken when it loses its source of warm, moist air, typically after making landfall or moving over cooler ocean waters.)
3. Have different names based on location:(Worldwide Terminology of Tropical Cyclones)

Naming of Tropical Cyclones

1. The naming of tropical cyclones is a relatively new practice coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
2. In the Indian Ocean region, a naming formula was established in 2004 involving eight countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
3. Each country contributes a list of names, which are used sequentially whenever a cyclonic storm forms.

• Examples of named cyclones in this region include Hudhud, Titli, Phethai, Fani, Vayu, and Amphan.

Feature	Tropical Cyclones	Extratropical Cyclones
Formation Location	Warm tropical/subtropical waters	Outside tropical regions
Energy Source	Evaporation of water from the ocean surface	Interaction of cold and warm air masses
Core Temperature	Warm	Cold
Fronts	Not associated with fronts	Always have one or more fronts
Naming	Vary based on location (hurricanes, typhoons)	Generally, not named by specific conventions

Fronts

1. When 2 different air masses with distinct properties meet, the boundary zone between them is called a front.

• An air mass is a large body of air with consistent temperature and humidity. It forms when air stays over a uniform area (like an ocean or plain) for a long time, taking on the characteristics of that area. These characteristics remain stable as long as the air mass stays over the same type of surface. Air masses are important for weather and climate.

2. There are 4 main types of fronts:

1. Stationary Front: When neither air mass displaces the other, it's called a stationary front. Weather conditions along a stationary front can remain unchanged for several days.
2. Cold Front: When colder, denser air moves towards warmer air, it forms a cold front. Cold fronts typically bring abrupt changes in weather, including intense precipitation and thunderstorms.
3. Warm Front: When warmer air advances over cooler air, it creates a warm front. Warm fronts bring more gradual weather changes, characterized by prolonged periods of light to moderate precipitation.
4. Occluded Front: When a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air mass off the ground, it forms an occluded front. Occluded fronts often bring a mix of weather conditions, including precipitation and sometimes thunderstorms.

Cyclones in India

Tropical cyclones originating over the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean bring destructive elements to the Indian coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Gujarat, which are more vulnerable to cyclone disasters. These cyclones are characterized by:

1. Strong Winds/Squalls: High wind velocities damage infrastructure, homes, communication systems, and trees, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
2. Torrential Rains and Inland Flooding: Heavy rainfall over wide areas causes severe problems for people left homeless by cyclones. It leads to extensive soil erosion, weakens embankments, and contributes to widespread flooding.
3. Storm Surge: A severe tropical cyclone causes an abnormal rise in sea level near the coast, known as storm surge. This inundates low-lying coastal areas, submerging human settlements, and livestock, eroding beaches, destroying vegetation, and reducing soil fertility.

Bay of Bengal vs. Arabian Sea: Two Cyclone Hotspots

Both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are facing increased cyclone risks, driven by a combination of geographic, meteorological, and human factors. While the Bay of Bengal has historically been more prone to cyclones due to its unique geography, the Arabian Sea is experiencing a concerning rise in cyclone activity, largely attributed to the impacts of climate change. This shift highlights the importance of understanding and adapting to the evolving nature of cyclone risks in both regions to protect vulnerable coastal communities and infrastructure.

Features	Bay of Bengal	Arabian Sea
Cyclone Frequency	Historically more prone to frequent cyclones	Historically fewer cyclones, but experiencing an increase in recent decades
Geographic Factors	Shallow northern part and landlocked nature intensify storm surges; low-lying islands with numerous rivers exacerbate flooding and erosion	Rising sea surface temperatures (1.2°C to 1.4°C increase) create favorable conditions for cyclone formation and intensification
Meteorological Factors	Complex coastal geometry leads to diverse cyclone impacts depending on local geography	Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) positive phase causes warmer sea surface temperatures and increased precipitation in the western Indian Ocean region, contributing to cyclone development
Human Factors	Increased population concentration in vulnerable coastal areas due to infrastructure development heightens exposure and vulnerability	Densely populated coastal regions along the western coast of India (Thiruvananthapuram to Gujarat) face growing threats from increasingly intense cyclones with higher wind, storm surges, and severe rainfall
Key Concerns	Storm surges, flooding, erosion, and impact on vulnerable coastal communities	Increasing cyclone intensity, heightened risk of wind damage, storm surges, severe rainfall, and threats to densely populated coastal areas