A growing risk to India is the occurrence of cyclones that collect strength rapidly, making it difficult to issue alerts. cyclone rapid intensification, Scientists call this rapid intensification, and it is a growing concern for India’s coasts.
What is the definition of rapid intensification?
Rapid intensification is the process in which a cyclone raises its speed by at least 55 km/h within a 1-day timeframe. Cyclone Tauktae saw an increase of 45 knots (83 km/h) at once.
What is the reason for this?
Cyclones use heat energy from warm water sources that are generally above minimum necessary temperatures of 28°C. Oceans have stored around 90% of the excess heat accumulated due to greenhouse gasses. The temperature of the water of the Arabian Sea at the time of cyclone formation was about 31°C instead of 28–29°C.
What Is Changing in India?
- Arabian Sea: Once it experienced only a cyclone each year, as IITM’s Roxy Mathew Koll notes, warming is altering this.
- Bay of Bengal: The region accounts for just four percent of global cyclones, yet it causes 80 percent of fatalities.
- Recent cyclones: Cyclones such as Ockhi, Fani and Amphan have gone from being weak to classified as extremely severe in a matter of 24 hours.
- Shifting locations: According to research, rapid intensification is occurring closer to shore, with the frequency of such events increasing over Arabian Sea.
Why Does It Matter? – cyclone rapid intensification
Fast intensifying cyclones are difficult to predict. A new study found that rates of intensification once experienced once every 100 years may become common every five to ten years by 2100. Researchers say rapid intensification poses serious challenges to forecasting.
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