Climate Change Is Causing More Frequent, Intense Cyclones On India’s Western Coast

Relevance: GS1 - Geographical Features and their Location; Important Geophysical Phenomena; GS3 - Climate Change

(Source: Indian Express, 10/06/2023)

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Why in the news?

• According to a new study, changes in ocean and atmosphere warming are causing more frequent and severe tropical cyclones in the Eastern Arabian Sea, near India’s west coast.
• This research is part of the "Forecasting with Fishers" project, led by the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).

What are Cyclones?

• Cyclones are a type of low-pressure environment with rapid inward air circulation.
• It is a type of tropical weather system characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall.
• It can also cause storm surges, which are large waves that can inundate low-lying areas and cause flooding.
• Formation: An area of low pressure is formed when warm and moist air rises up and away from the ocean surface.
  • Air from surrounding areas with higher pressure then moves towards the low-pressure area.
  • In a continuous cycle, this cool air becomes warm and moist and rises up.
  • The warm moist air which rises up, cools the water in the air and results in the formation of clouds.
  • This whole system of clouds and winds spins and grows and the cycle results in a cyclone.
  • This process is known as cyclogenesis.

Findings of the Study

• Changing Cyclone Patterns: Traditionally, tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea occurred at the start of the southwestern monsoon season (March-June) and after the season (October-December). However, in 2019, the Arabian Sea experienced five cyclones, exceeding the usual count of three, particularly during a positive phase of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD).
• Impact of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): The IOD, similar to El Nino, involves one part of the ocean becoming warmer than the other. During its positive phase, sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean region increase, leading to more precipitation and rain in the eastern Indian Ocean.
• Human-Caused Climate Change: The recent increase in the frequency of extremely severe cyclonic storms is primarily due to human-caused climate change rather than natural variability, indicating that climate change is intensifying and increasing cyclone frequency.
• Impacts on Western India: As cyclone intensity increases, western India's coastlines, from Gujarat to Thiruvananthapuram, face growing risks, including high winds, storm surges, heavy rainfall, and more.
• Coastal Communities Concerns: Cyclones present a serious danger to both human life and the economy due to their strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which can result in loss of life and extensive damage to crops, livestock, and fisheries, resulting in significant economic losses.

Conclusion

The study calls for changes in development strategies to address the dangers posed by more intense and frequent cyclones. Additionally, it underscores the need to develop new policies and technology initiatives related to storm warnings, impact-based local weather services, and reliable localized weather services.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020)

1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10C lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only