In the past 150 to 200 years, the Bay of Bengal has produced four times more cyclones than the Arabian Sea. However, this may soon change thanks to global warming.
“For every four cyclones in the Bay of Bengal there is one in the Arabian Sea. We have dates for more than 150-200 years. If you look at this data and calculate it, it sets a ratio of 1 to 4, ”says KS Hosalikar, Head of SID, Climate Research & Services, Meteorological Division, Pune India.
(Infographic: India Today / Rahul Gupta)
KS Hosalikar explained the reason for this huge difference between the number of cyclone storms on the east and west coasts of India, saying that there are several factors that influence the formation of a storm in the sea.
“There are a number of reasons for this, including geographic location, sea surface temperature (SST), and the salinity of the sea. All of these play an important role,” said Hosalikar.
However, this relationship could soon change. A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has shown that both the frequency and the intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea are increasing. The experts believe that the main reason is an increase in sea temperature.
“The ideal sea temperature, or SST, for cyclones to form is 28.5 degrees Celsius. With the usual 28 degrees SST, the Bay of Bengal is classified as a warm pool region. Cyclones get their energy from the warm pool areas, ”said Roxy Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
“Traditionally, the Arabian Sea is much cooler than the Bay of Bengal. But now the Arabian Sea is also becoming a warm pool region because of the additional heat provided by global warming, ”he said.
(Infographic: India Today / Rahul Gupta)
WHY BAY OF BENGAL CREATES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CYCLONES
The Bay of Bengal is not only a warm pool region, but is also somewhat more surrounded by landlocked countries compared to the Arabian Sea, which is more expansive and also leads to an increase in the salinity of the seawater.
According to experts, the Bay of Bengal also receives many remnants of the typhoons in the Pacific. They come to the Bay of Bengal as a low pressure area and, due to ideal conditions, grow into cyclones.
MORE DATA REQUIRED FOR BETTER RESEARCH
There are various buoys that are set up in the sea over the Bay of Bengal as well as in the Arabian Sea that help to collect data on temperature, pressure, wind speed, etc. This data helps scientists conduct their research, but they say it does require a larger network of buoys in the ocean to get better, more accurate data.
Hosalikar said it was necessary to investigate the “rapid intensification of the system”. The formation of a cyclone starts from a “low pressure” through a “well-defined low pressure” to a “depression” to a “deep depression” to a “cyclone storm”, then from a “heavy cyclone” to a “very severe cyclone” and then an “extremely heavy cyclone” and finally a “super cyclone”.
Scientists say that in the past, cyclones took a long time to form between different phases. But now the intensity of a cyclone can change overnight.
“These cyclones turn into a super cyclone or an extremely heavy cyclone in less than 24 hours. So it can be a weak cyclone when you go to sleep and a severe cyclone on your doorstep when you wake up. That gives us less time to answer, ”said Roxy Koll.
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