CYCLONE

In meteorology, a cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low
atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above. Cyclones are characterized by inward-spiraling
winds that rotate about a zone of low pressure.

How are Cyclones Formed?

The formation of cyclones takes place in low-pressure areas. The vulnerability of the place
where the cyclone strikes depend on the topography, intensity and frequency of the
cyclone.

There are 6 factors that can be held responsible for the formation of the cyclone:

 Ample amount of warm temperature at the surface of the sea.

 Instability in the atmosphere.

 How the Coriolis force is impacting the area so that low-pressure area can be
created.

 When the humidity is high in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere.

 Disturbance in the pre-existing low-level area.

 When the vertical wind shear is low.

Types of Cyclones

There are 4 types of cyclones and they are:

 Tropical cyclone

 Polar cyclone

 Mesocyclone

 Extratropical cyclone

Tropical Cyclone
The regions where the tropical cyclone occurs are over the tropical ocean. Hurricanes and
typhoons are the two types of tropical cyclone. Atlantic and Northeast Pacific are the
regions where hurricanes are found. Whereas, in the Northwest Pacific, typhoons are found.
A tropical cyclone is divided into 5 categories depending on the intensity and the wind
speed.

Polar Cyclone

The polar cyclone is also known as the “Arctic hurricane” in the Northern Hemisphere. This
is due to their energy sources. The heat is transferred from water to air and the latent heat
is released in the form of cloud condensation. The forecast of the polar cyclone is difficult as
they take less than 24 hours, and they are formed quickly. They are formed over the Arctic
and Antarctic seas.

Mesocyclone

The mesocyclone is considered to be one of the strong thunderstorms. The mesocyclone is

found within the convective storm in the form of a vortex of air. The air rises and rotates
along the vertical axis. The direction of this air and the low-pressure system are the same in
the given hemisphere. The mesocyclone is accompanied by the rotating air within the
thunderstorm.

Extratropical Cyclone

The cyclones that are formed in the middle latitudes along the frontal boundaries are either
known as extratropical cyclones or mid-latitude cyclones. The winds of the extratropical
cyclone are weaker however, the temperature gradients are sharp. The nor’easter is an
example of an extratropical cyclone that impacts the east coast of the United States.

INDIA’S LOSS DUE TO CYCLONE

Almost a third of the national population (nearly 320 million people) is vulnerable to the
impact of cyclones, according to a 2021 study by researchers at the National Institute of
Disaster Management (NIDM). “Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal on
the east coast and Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat on the west coast, and
some Union territories in the country, covering 84 coastal districts, are affected by tropical
cyclones.”

In 2020, the coastal areas of West Bengal close to the Bangladesh border such Gosaba,
Kumirmari, Hingalganj, Taki and Basirhat experienced the costliest tropical cyclone on
record for the North Indian Ocean. 

Cyclones Gonu (2007), Chapala (2015) and Mekunu (2018) landed in the Middle East
via the Bay of Bengal. Cyclones Mala (2006), Nargis (2008) and Gini (2010) landed in
Southeast Asia via the Arabian Sea.

Cyclone Phailin, traveling at a much higher wind speed of 260 km per hour, caused
less losses in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands at $1.5
billion.

Although the loss of lives has reduced significantly, India still incurs tremendous
economic losses with each cyclone. Last year, Cyclone Amphan cost 14 billion dollars,
according to a UN report. RMSI, a global consulting firm working on natural
calamities, pegged Cyclone Tauktae’s economic damage at Rs 15,000 crore.

CASE STUDY : Cyclone Tauktae

A low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea first concentrated into a depression and
later intensified into a cyclonic storm named ‘Cyclone Tauktae’. The West Coast of
India has been affected by the cyclone. It is the first cyclone of 2021

Tauktae originated from an area of low pressure in the Arabian Sea, which was first
monitored by the India Meteorological Department on May 13. The low drifted
eastward and organized into a deep depression by May 14. The storm soon took a
northward turn, continuing to gradually intensify because of warm waters near the
coast, and the system strengthened into a cyclonic storm and was
named Tauktae later that same day. Tauktae continued intensifying into May 15,
reaching severe cyclonic storm status later that day. Tauktae began to parallel the
coast of the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, before rapidly
intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm, early on May 16. Early on May 17,
Tauktae intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, reaching its peak
intensity soon afterward. Later that same day, Tauktae underwent an eyewall
replacement cycle and weakened, before restrengthening as it neared the coast of
Gujarat, making landfall soon afterward.
The city experienced their highest ever recorded wind gust at 114 km/h (70 mph).
[13]
 Power outages and other electrical problems also prevailed in the impacted
regions. The cyclone made landfall in Gujarat the same day as India recorded its, at
the time, highest single-day COVID-19 death toll, with 4,329 deaths reported.[14] The
cyclone also caused a large amount of maritime incidents as it moved along the
coast of western India. Hundreds were missing from various barges; however, most
of them have been rescued.[14] Other larger ships also experienced problems, such as
structure or power losses. At least 174 people have been killed by the storm, with
over 80 still missing. Losses from Tauktae were calculated at ₹115 billion
or US$1.57 billion.[15][16][17][18]