Cyclone Biparjoy
Context:
- The formation of cyclonic storm Biparjoy may cause further delay in monsoon onset by two-three days.
- The Biparjoy is anticipated to move nearly northwards during the next 24 hours and intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm.
- The onset of Southwest monsoon is already delayed by six days and due to the development of the cyclonic storm, the arrival of monsoon over Kerala coast could be delayed by another two-three days.
More about Tropical Cyclones:
- A tropical cyclone is a rapid rotating storm originating over tropical oceans from where it draws the energy to develop.
- It has a low pressure centre and clouds spiraling towards the eyewall surrounding the “eye”, the central part of the system where the weather is normally calm and free of clouds.
- Its diameter is typically around 200 to 500 km, but can reach 1000 km.
- A tropical cyclone brings very violent winds, torrential rain, high waves and, in some cases, very destructive storm surges and coastal flooding.
- The winds blow counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Tropical cyclones above a certain strength are given names in the interests of public safety.
Several conditions are needed for a tropical cyclone to form:
- High sea temperatures of at least 27°C.
- Converging winds near the ocean surface forcing air to rise and form storm clouds.
- Winds that do not vary greatly with height – known as low wind shear. This allows the storm clouds to rise vertically to high levels;
- Sufficient distance from the equator for a spin such as the Coriolis force to take effect.
Naming of Tropical Cyclones:
- Worldwide there are six Regional Specialised Mteorological Centres (RSMCs) and five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming of tropical cyclones.
- The tropical cyclones forming over different Ocean basins are named by the concerned RSMCs & TCWCs.
- India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under WMO/ESCAP Panel including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- RSMC, New Delhi is also mandated to name the Tropical Cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean (NIO) including the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS).
Criteria for the selection of the name:
- The proposed name should be neutral to (a) politics and political figures (b) religious believes, (c) cultures and (d) gender Name should be chosen in such a way that it does not hurt the sentiments of any group of population over the globe
- It should not be very rude and cruel in nature
- It should be short, easy to pronounce and should not be offensive to any member
- The maximum length of the name will be eight letters
- The proposed name should be provided along with its pronunciation and voice over
Syllabus: Prelims; Geography
