Powerful winds wreaked havoc in the Bay Area and California, caused by the Fujiwhara effect—an interaction between two cyclones identified by Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara. When two cyclones approach, they engage in a dance around a shared center, with outcomes ranging from orbiting to merging. This phenomenon, originating in the Pacific in 1964, results from cyclones’ proximity and intensity. Rising frequency of the effect is linked to a warming world and heated ocean waters, potentially leading to the formation of mega cyclones.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Fujiwhara Effect: When two cyclones spin in the same direction and approach each other, they engage in an intricate dance around their common center, known as the Fujiwhara effect. This interaction can lead to various outcomes, including orbiting, merging, or spinning around each other.
- Sakuhei Fujiwhara: A Japanese meteorologist who identified the Fujiwhara effect. He observed this phenomenon for the first time in 1964 when Typhoons Marie and Kathy merged over the western Pacific Ocean.
- Cyclones: Cyclones are large-scale systems of low pressure characterized by strong winds and organized atmospheric circulation. They include hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones. Cyclones derive their energy from warm ocean waters and can cause severe weather and damage when they make landfall.
- Mega Cyclone: A term describing an exceptionally powerful and large cyclone that forms when two cyclones merge as a result of the Fujiwhara effect. These mega cyclones can unleash widespread devastation along coastlines due to their intensified strength.
- Warming World and Ocean Heating: Refers to the ongoing increase in global temperatures due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases. This warming is causing the oceans to absorb heat, leading to higher sea surface temperatures. The warming world contributes to the intensification of weather events and phenomena like the Fujiwhara effect.
