Context
Cyclone Tauktae is developed in the Arabian Sea which is expected to hit southern Gujarat. In recent years, strong cyclones are developing in the Arabian Sea more frequently than earlier.
About the Cyclone Tauktae
- Cyclone Tauktae (pronounced Tau-Te) is classified as a very severe cyclonic storm.
- Its speed is expected to increase to 150-160 km per hour, gusting up to 175 km per hour.
- Tauktae's name originates from a Burmese word which translates to gecko, a "highly vocal lizard".
- The cyclone was named by Myanmar.
- Tauktae is the fourth cyclone in consecutive years in the Arabian Sea, others being the Cyclone Mekanu in 2018, which struck Oman, Cyclone Vayu in 2019 struck Gujarat and Cyclone Nisarga in 2020 that struck Maharashtra.
- Tauktae has been intensifying very rapidly from a depression formed in the southeast Arabian Sea.
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The severity of a tropical cyclone is described in terms of categories ranging from 1 (weakest) to 5 (strongest) related to the maximum mean wind speed as shown in this table.
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Category
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Maximum Mean Wind (km/h)
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Typical Strongest Gust (km/h)
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Typical Effects
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Cyclonic Storm
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63 - 88
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< 125
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Damaging winds. Negligible house damage. Damage to some crops, trees and caravans. Craft may drag moorings.
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Severe Cyclonic Storm
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89 - 117
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125 - 164
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Destructive winds. Minor house damage. Significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of power failure. Small craft may break moorings.
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Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
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118 - 159
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165 - 224
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Very destructive winds. Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans destroyed. Power failures likely. (e.g. Clare, Olwyn)
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Extremely Severe Cyclone
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160 - 199
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225 - 279
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Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Many caravans destroyed and blown away. Dangerous airborne debris. Widespread power failures. (e.g. Tracy, Debbie, Lam)
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Super Cyclone
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> 200
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> 279
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Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction. (e.g. Vance, Marcia, Yasi)
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Reason for the rapid intensification
- A tropical cyclone requires energy to stay alive which is obtained from warm water and humid air over the tropical ocean.
- Currently, the sea water up to depths of 50 metres has been very warm that supplies the ample energy to enable the intensification of Cyclone Tauktae.
- The more heat released through condensation of water vapour results in the steeper drop in pressure that undergoes multiple stages of intensification to form cyclones.
Is the Arabian Sea becoming cyclone-friendly?
- Every year around, five cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea combined.
- Of these, four develop in the Bay of Bengal, which is warmer than the Arabian Sea.
- However, in recent years, the Arabian Sea, too, has been warming due to associated global warming.
- This has caused the more frequent and intense cyclones in the Arabian Sea.
Why more Cyclones are formed over the Bay of Bengal?
The Bay witnesses cyclones both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon due to number of reasons;
- Higher sea surface temperature
- weak vertical mixing in BOB
- huge perennial fresh water influx from Himalayan Rivers
- basin rainfall and sluggish wind
All these factors make the Bay of Bengal the one of the most sensitive areas in the world to cyclones.
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