Why are there More Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal? Top 10 UPSC Facts on the Bay of Bengal

India is one of the countries that is most vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, cyclones, and landslides. Cyclones have been a feature of the country for many years, particularly in the southern region of the country. Because of their closeness to the Indian Ocean, where cyclones are a regular occurrence, both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea suffer cyclonic occurrences.

When the two are examined, the Bay of Bengal has around 5 times the number of cyclones as the Western equivalent. Furthermore, cyclones in the Bay are more powerful and deadly. Furthermore, approximately 58 percent of cyclones that develop in the Bay of Bengal reach the shore, but only 25% of those that form in the Arabian Sea do.

But why are there more cyclones in the Bay of Bengal? Let’s find that out in this article.

Why are There More Cyclones in The Bay of Bengal?

Because the sea surface temperatures and humidity are both directly related to the likelihood of cyclone development, the Bay of Bengal is a great target because it receives more rainfall and has slow breezes that maintain temperatures reasonably warm all year: about 28 degrees. Warm air currents contribute to the development of cyclones by raising the surface temperature.

In addition, the Bay receives more rainfall and freshwater habitats from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers on a consistent basis. This indicates that the Bay’s topwater is constantly replenished, preventing heated water from mixing with colder water below, making it perfect for a depression.

The Arabian Sea gets stronger breezes that assist dissipate the temperature, and the lack of a steady supply of freshwater allows warm water to mingle with cold water, lowering the temperature.

UPSC Exam Current Affairs Notes on Cyclones

The sections below have covered all the crucial information regarding the cyclones in India. After reading these, you will be more than ready for the UPSC exam interview questions on this topic.

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What is a Cyclone?

Any low-pressure region with winds swirling inwards is referred to as a cyclone. In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones spin counterclockwise, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. Cyclogenesis is the phenomenon of cyclone creation and strengthening.

Types of Cyclone

Cyclones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the sort of low-pressure system that is present.

#1. Tropical cyclone

#2. Extratropical cyclone

#3. Tornadoes

Cyclones have been observed on other worlds such as Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune, in addition to Earth. The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a long-running storm that has lasted 340 years. The Great Black Spot was discovered in Neptune’s Southern Hemisphere.

How is a Cyclone Formed?

Cyclogenesis is an important factor in the creation and intensification of cyclones. It’s a catch-all word for a number of various processes that culminate in a cyclone. Warm, wet air at the ocean’s surface rises higher. This results in a low-pressure zone close to the surface. This causes colder air from the nearby areas to flow into the low area. Even this chilly air is now warm and wet, and it rises.

The cycle described above continues. The moisture in the air cools as warm wet air rises, resulting in the development of clouds. This entire cloud and wind system rotates and expands.

This cycle repeats itself, culminating in a cyclone. A tropical storm occurs when winds exceed 63 miles per hour, while a tropical cyclone or hurricane occurs when winds reach 119 miles per hour.

How are Cyclones Named?

An international council of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains and updates cyclone lists and names. Only female names were on the original listings. In 1979, male names came into use. After that, both men’s and women’s names are alternately used.

Six different lists are utilised in a rotating fashion. As a result, the 2020 list will be used again in 2026. If the storms have inflicted damage on a country, the names will not be mentioned again for obvious reasons.

Some examples are Katrina in the United States (2005), Haiyan in the Philippines (2013), Sandy in the United States (2012), Irma, and Maria in the Caribbean (2017).

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Where Do Cyclones Occur in India?

The Bay of Bengal has around four times the number of cyclones as the Arabian Sea. Between 1891 and 1990, there were roughly 262 cyclones on the east coast and 33 cyclones on the western coast of India, according to an examination of cyclone frequency on the eastern and western coastlines of India.

Tropical Cyclones are cyclones that form between the Capricorn and the Tropics of Cancer. These are weather patterns with winds that are equal to or more than gale force (min of 34 knots, i.e., 62 km/h).

How Many Cyclones have Hit India?

Since ancient times, India has been struck by a number of cyclones. 9 cyclones, on the other hand, have proven to be the most deadly, wreaking havoc over the afflicted territory.

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States Affected by Cyclones in India

With a coastline of 7516 kilometres, the Indian subcontinent is the world’s most affected territory. It is vulnerable to virtually all of the world’s cyclones.

Cyclones damage 13 coastal states or Union Territories, comprising 84 coastal districts. Cyclone catastrophes are most likely to strike Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal, as well as Pondicherry.

Although cyclones strike India’s whole coast, the East coast is more vulnerable than the West. An examination of the frequency of cyclones on India’s East and West coastlines during 1891 to 2000 found that the East coast was hit by roughly 308 cyclones (103 of which were destructive). During the same time span, 48 tropical cyclones passed along the West Coast, with 24 of them being strong cyclonic storms.

Destruction Caused by Cyclones in India

Recurring cyclones are responsible for a high number of deaths, as well as the loss of livelihoods, private and public property, and infrastructural damage. Strong winds and squalls are known to inflict catastrophic damage in cyclones.

Communication networks and trees are toppled, resulting in the loss of life and property in some cases. Inland floods and heavy rainfall are two more aspects of storms that cause havoc. Rain, when combined with a storm, amplifies the storm’s intensity.

Cyclones can also cause an extraordinary rise in sea level, particularly along the shore. As a result, saltwater inundated low-lying coastal areas, destroying vegetation and eroding beaches and overpasses.

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Deadliest Cyclones in India: UPSC Current Affairs Topic

Cyclone Fani (2019)

Fani was a powerful cyclonic storm that struck the Indian state of Odisha earlier.. It left a pile of devastation in its wake, killing more than 40 people and toppling trees and communication lines, hurting the state’s economy and disrupting daily life.

Fani quickly became a particularly serious cyclonic storm, reaching a peak intensity of a high-end very severe cyclonic storm on May 2.

Cyclone Ockhi (2017)

During the 2017 North Indian Ocean cyclone cycle, Cyclone Ockhi was the most severe and one of the fiercest tropical storms. Ockhi from the Arabian Sea hit mainland India, as well as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat’s coasts. Apart from leaving a vast path of destruction across the impacted regions, this hurricane claimed the lives of 245 individuals.

Cyclone Vardah (2016)

Cyclone Vardah wreaked havoc on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands before crossing India’s eastern coast and wreaking havoc on Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Visakhapatnam. In the course of the hurricane, 38 persons were killed. On December 3, the storm began as a low-pressure system near the Malay Peninsula and was upgraded to a depression on December 6.

Cyclone Hudhud (2014)

Cyclone Hudhud was a powerful tropical storm that wreaked havoc in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. Hudhud mostly impacted Visakhapatnam or Vizag, as well as Odisha. Heavy winds and heavy rain blasted over the state, causing catastrophic devastation, killing at least 124 people.

Cyclone Phailin (2013)

Since the 1999 Odisha cyclone, Phailin was perhaps the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit India. On October 4, 2013, the structure was originally identified as a storm system in the Gulf of Thailand, west of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It proceeded westwards during the next several days, passing through a region of low to medium vertical wind shear before exiting the Western Pacific Basin on October 6 as it passed over the Malay Peninsula. This disaster killed 45 people.

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Cyclone Helen (2013)

Helen was a minor tropical storm that developed on November 18, 2013, in the Bay of Bengal area from the leftovers of Tropical Storm Podul. Cyclone Helen wreaked havoc on eastern India, killing at least 11 people.

Cyclone Nilam (2012)

Since Cyclone Jal in 2010, Nilam was the worst tropical cyclone to hit South India straight. On October 31, it made landfall at Mahabalipuram as a severe cyclonic storm with top winds of 85 kilometres per hour (50 mph).

Strong gusts blew sand piles onshore on Chennai’s Marina Beach, and saltwater surged over 100 metres (330 feet) inland. For more than 3 days, the town’s schools and universities were shuttered. This storm claimed the lives of 75 people.

Cyclone Phyan (2009)

On November 4, 2009, cyclonic storm Phyan formed as a tropical storm southwest of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The disturbance became stronger over the following several days before decreasing when it made landfall in Southern India on November 7.

In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, Cyclone Phyan dumped a lot of rain. Phyan was among India’s wettest cyclones, dumping massive amounts of rain along the coastlines of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Odisha Cyclone (1999)

This cyclone was recorded as the strongest tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean and among the most destructive in the region. On October 25, it formed tropical depression in the Andaman Sea. As it moved west-northwest, the disturbance grew stronger, eventually reaching cyclonic storm intensity the next day.

Top 10 UPSC Current Affairs Facts on the Bay of Bengal

#1. It is the largest bay in the world covering 172000 sq. km.

#2. It covers the North-eastern sections of the Indian ocean.

#3. It is triangular in shape and bordered by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

#4. The Padma, the Krishna, the Irrawaddy and the Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal.

#5. More than 6 million tons of fish are caught in this bay.

#6. Cheduba is an island in this bay that has mud volcanoes.

#7. In 2004, 280000 people were killed from the tectonic pressure of this bay.

#8. It has one of the largest marine ecosystems.

#9. You can find famous shipwrecks in this bay, such as the Bark, 1850 American Eagle Clipper and the Yura.

#10. This bay is very prone to cyclones.

Conclusion

We have tried to cover all the information that can be asked about the cyclones in India. You can bookmark this page in your browser to read it frequently. Or you can make notes out of the sections given in this article. Natural disasters are a common topic in the UPSC, therefore, you must know about the names, damaged areas, date of occurrence and more. You can add the notes in your UPSC preparation plan and be extra ready for the questions on it.

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