The Indian Meteorological Department has reported that a rapidly advancing depression in the Arabian Sea is anticipated to escalate into a severe cyclone, named ‘Nisarga’. The moniker ‘Nisarga’ has been proposed by Bangladesh.
Cyclone Nisarga and its Potential Impact
According to forecasts, the influence of Cyclone Nisarga will be primarily felt in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. There are significant concerns about how the cyclonic storm may adversely affect the fight against Covid-19. Flooding and rainfall could threaten social distancing and other crucial precautions in evacuation centres. Furthermore, there could be potential risk to certain Covid-19 facilities situated in low-lying areas.
Just a few days ago, the super cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh. This cyclone was one of the most potent to impact the country in recent decades. However, it is expected that Cyclone Nisarga may prove less extreme than Cyclone Amphan both in terms of strength and intensity. Yet, in both cases, unusually high ocean temperatures appear to have played a role in exacerbating these intense storms.
Cyclones in the Arabian Sea
Traditionally, cyclones have had a more frequent occurrence in the Bay of Bengal than off India’s western coast, however, according to scientists, this pattern has been slowly but surely altering. Additionally, cyclones originating from the Bay of Bengal typically exhibit greater strength than those arising from the Arabian Sea. The comparatively cooler waters of the Arabian Sea do not foster as potent cyclones as the Bay of Bengal.
The year 2019 emerged as an anomaly, with the Arabian Sea experiencing the highest frequency and intensity of cyclonic activity in over a century. In 2019, five cyclones – Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha, and Pavan – originated in the Arabian Sea, a stark contrast to the usual one or two. As a result, the Arabian Sea reported more cyclonic storms than the Bay of Bengal in 2019.
About Tropical Cyclones
A tropical cyclone is a severe circular storm originating over warm, tropical oceans and identified by its low atmospheric pressure, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. One of the defining features of these cyclones is the eye, which is a central area with clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure. These storms are labelled as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and eastern Pacific, typhoons in SouthEast Asia and China, and tropical cyclones in the southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean region. In the southern hemisphere, these storms rotate clockwise, whereas they rotate counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.
About India Meteorological Department
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was founded in 1875 and acts as an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Indian Government. The IMD is primarily responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
