‘Asani’ set to weaken near Odisha coast / Cyclone Naming (UPSC Current Affair)

Relevance: GS1 - Important Geophysical Phenomena - Cyclone

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What is the News?

According to recent updates by India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Asani is not going to hit West Bengal and is likely to recurve in a north-eastward direction and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm to trigger a spell of rain that will majorly impact Bangladesh and Myanmar.

What is Cyclone Asani?

• Cyclone Asani is a tropical cyclone that is developed in the Bay of Bengal.
• The cyclone was Named by Sri Lanka which means wrath in the Sinhala language.
• Significance: Cyclone Asani is a Severe Cyclonic Storm. It is the first cyclone of 2022 formed in the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean Region.
• Impact: According to IMD, the cyclone was likely to make an impact in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. But since May 10, Cyclone has recurved in a north-eastward direction
• This has weakened it into a cyclonic storm to trigger a spell of rain that will majorly impact.
• compared to Cyclone Fani and Cyclone Amphan, Cyclone Asani is expected to only graze the coast and not make landfall.

How a Tropical Cyclone is formed?

• Tropical Cyclone is a Secondary Air circulation phenomenon. It is formed over warm ocean waters near the equator.
• Warm, wet air rises away from the ocean's surface, forming a low-pressure zone.
• The cyclone forces air from higher-pressure zones to migrate toward the low-pressure area.
• This causes the air to warm up, causing it to ascend. The water in the air generates clouds as it rises and cools.
• Along with the heat of the ocean, this entire system of clouds-wind rotates and expands.
• An eye forms in the midst of the wind as the rotation speed increases..

What are the Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone?

• A cyclone's center is calm and clear, with very low air pressure.
• The average speed is 120 kilometers per hour.
• They have closed isobars, which means they move faster.
  • On a weather map, isobars are imaginary lines that connect regions with equal atmospheric pressure.
• They only grow in oceans and seas.
• Under the influence of trade winds, they travel from east to west.
• They are only available during specific seasons.

How are Cyclones classified?

• The Indian Meteorological Department classifies cyclones based on wind speed (IMD).
  • Depression: Wind speeds of between 31–49 km/h
  • Deep Depression: Wind speeds Between 50-61 km/h
  • Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds Between 62–88 km/
  • Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds Between 89-117 Km/h
  • Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds Between 118-166 Km/h
  • Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds Between 166-221 Km/h
  • Super Cyclonic Storm: Above 222 Km/h

How are Tropical Cyclones named?

• The world has five tropical cyclone regional bodies:
  • ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee,
  • WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones,
  • Regional Association(RA) Tropical Cyclone Committee,
  • RA IV Hurricane Committee,
  • RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee.
• For Indian OceanRegion: The WMO/ESCAP Tropical Cyclones Panel is in charge of naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean.

WMO/ESCAP Panel

In 1972, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) formed an intergovernmental regional agency.

Aim

In the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea region, push steps to improve tropical cyclone warning systems.

Coverage

Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen are the thirteen countries that make up the region.

Task

• When a cyclonic storm occurs, they contribute to a list of names that are assigned in order.
• The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones compiled a list from the recommendations submitted by each country (PTC).
• IMD has produced a list of 169 cyclone names, which includes the names of the cyclones as well as 13 proposals from each of the 13 countries.

Names Suggested by India

The names suggested by India include Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar (pronounced Jhor), Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega.

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