Cyclones

Cyclones are violent Storms with an intense spiral and accompanied

by strong winds and heavy rains. They are caused due to strong
winds blowing around the central area having low atmospheric
pressure.

Causes of cyclones
As we know that when water vaporizes, it absorbs heat from the
surroundings. Water vapor rises in the atmosphere where it cools
down. When water vapor changes back into liquid the heat is
released into the atmosphere. This warms the air around it.
The warm air tends to rise and causes a drop in the pressure. The air
moves from surrounding high-pressure areas to the central low-
pressure area. This cycle is repeated. The chain of events leads to the
formation of very low-pressure system surrounded by with very
high-speed winds. This weather condition is a cyclone.

Factors Affecting Cyclone

Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and humidity
contribute to the development of a cyclone. The center of the cyclone
is a cloudless calm area this is called the eye. In this area, winds are
not very strong and there is no rainfall. But the winds around the eye
have very high speed up to 200 km per hour.

There are two types of cyclones: middle latitude (mid-

latitude) cyclones and tropical cyclones.
The key differences between Tropical and Temperate Cyclones
can be understood under below headings:

Location : Tropical cyclones form along the 5 to 10 degree

latitude {but never form along 0 to 5 degree latitude due to
absence of coriolis force} whereas temperate cyclone are formed
along middle latitude (35 to 60 degree) where convergence of
thermally different masses collide each other.

Origin :Tropical cyclones always origin in large water bodies,

whereas temperate cyclones can origin on both landmass or
water.
Structure : Tropical cyclones have a definite structure of
formation having a front end followed by a zone of
calmness called “eye” and ends with tail (rear end). In temperate
cyclone, two different air masses collide each other so four
different sectors are formed, they are cold sector (cold drier air
mass), cold front, warm sector(warm moist air mass) and warm
front.

Size and speed Tropical cyclones range from 150-200 kms with
high velocity where as temperate cyclones are larger in size
ranging around 1900 km and due to large size it moves slower at
the speed of 40-60 kmph.

Movement direction : Tropical direction moves from east to west

direction under the influence of westerly winds.

Weather condition : The tropical cyclones are associated with

heavy rain fall and high velocity of winds for short duration at
small area, sometimes the rain and associated winds are so high
that it can cause damage to life and property mostly at eastern
coastal areas. In temperate cyclone the weather are mild and
overcast sky in initial stage and followed by moderate to heavy
rain for long period of time on large area.

ORIGIN OF FANI

The second named storm and the first severe cyclonic storm of the
2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Fani originated from a
tropical depression that formed west of Sumatra in the Indian
Ocean on 26 April. Vertical wind shear at first hindered the storm's
development, but conditions became more favorable on 30 April.
Fani rapidly intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm
and reached its peak intensity on 2 May, as a high,-end extremely
severe cyclonic storm, and the equivalent of a high-end Category 4
major hurricane. Fani weakened before making landfall, and its
convective structure rapidly degraded thereafter, degenerating into
a remnant low on 4 May, and dissipating on the next day.
 the super cyclone carried energy equivalent to
1,600 atomic bombs, similar to the ones dropped
over Hiroshima. waves as high as 40 feet were
witnessed, and villages as far away as 40 km from
the coast submerged. Most documented accounts
talk of waves 25 to 30 feet high.
What added to the destructive capability of the
super cyclone was that it stayed on for unusually
long even after making landfall. Usually, cyclones
dissipate in strength very fast after making contact
with land. The super cyclone, however, continued to
retain the strength of a cyclonic storm even 36
hours after landfall. Heavy rain continued for two
days along the coastline.

Preparations
The India Meteorological Department tracked the storm and issued
numerous yellow warnings for much of the south-eastern portion of
India when the cyclone started to intensify.[25][26] In preparation for
the storm's impact, the state government of Odisha evacuated
over 1.2 million residents from vulnerable coastal areas and
moved them to higher ground and into cyclone shelters built a few
miles inland. This is said to have reduced the resultant death toll.
The authorities deployed around a thousand emergency workers
and 43,000 volunteers in these effort. It sent out 2.6 million text
messages to warn of the storm in addition to using television,
sirens and public-address systems to communicate the message.
About 7,000 kitchens were operated to feed evacuees in 9,000
storm shelters.[27][28]
The Indian Navy readied naval ships and aircraft at Arakkonam
and Visakhapatnam air-bases to prepare for the storm's aftermath
and aid in reconnaissance, rescue and relief operations.[29] The
Odisha government staged "300 power boats, two helicopters and
many chain saws, to cut downed trees" for the purpose.[28]
Authorities in Bangladesh were ordered to open shelter areas as
well in 19 coastal districts.[30] Bangladesh Navy deployed 32 naval
ships to provide emergency relief and medical assistance to the
coastal areas in case of any emergencies.[31] More than 1.2 million
people were evacuated in Bangladesh and moved to the cyclone
shelters in coastal areas.[32]

Impact and aftermath(areas affected

& devastating effects)
At least 72 people have been killed by Fani in India; 64 in
Odisha,[33] and 8 in two districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Shattered windowpanes, sturdy trees lying flat on the
roads, and downed power lines are the prominent
markers of Cyclone Fani in several coastal areas of Odisha,
and to a lesser extent, of West Bengal. Puri and Khordha district in
Odisha were the worst hit.[27] The Jagannath Temple in Puri
suffered minor damage, the repairing cost were estimated to be
₹5.1 crore.[37] Initial agricultural damage were estomated to be
₹150 crore .[38]
The Indian state of Andhra Pradesh reported no loss of life or
injury, but estimated an economic damage of ₹58.62 crore
.[5] The South Central Railway also suffered a damage of about
₹2.98 crore
Fani killed 17 people in ten districts of Bangladesh.The cyclone
also destroyed about (160,000 acres) of farmland in 35 districts of
the country, the agricultural loss were at tk38.5 crore (US$4.6
million).[44] Total damage in Bangladesh were up to Tk536.61 crore
After the cyclone, Odisha required ₹17,000 crore for rebuilding the
infrastructure.[

Relief and help

Cyclone FANI. The massive evacuation was possible due to the
improved community awareness created over the years of effort by
the government and non government humanitarian agencies backed
by robust systems and processes put in place to evacuate and
providing temporary shelters in some 850 Multi Purpose Cyclone
Shelters ( MPCS) built during last twenty years with investments
coming from the state as well as the civil society. However, the strong
wind of more than 200 km /hr has caused extensive damage to the
infrastructure and people’s assets, such as water supply, electricity
and the weak houses of the poor rural and urban communities. The
lifeline of the state including the state capital is still under darkness
with electricity, Internet and communication line cut off completely.
The government response:
Free kitchen extended for another 15 days, most kitchens
running the MPCSs.
The State Government announced the rehabilitation
package for the cyclone victims.
The beneficiaries will get INR
95,100 for fully damaged houses under rural housing schemes.
Similarly the families having partially damaged houses will get
INR 5,200 and INR 3,200 for nominal repair
The affected families in Puri and Khurda districts will get
50 Kg rice, INR 2000/- and a polythene each
Additional one-month pension to the beneficiaries in the
affected areas under Social Security Scheme. Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced that the government had released over
₹1000 crore for the states affected by Fani.[

Reducing the impact

Accurate predictions of the path of a cyclone, its severity, and the time of
arrival enable people to prepare. They can make buildings safe and stock
up with food and water in a place of safety. Many people can evacuate
the area.

The time, effort and expense involved mean that false alarms would lead
to people ignoring warnings, so forecasts must be accurate. A huge
amount of data have been collected over the years and computer models
are employed that make use of all the findings. Tracking and prediction
has improved, especially now that satellites are used extensively.

Effective Measures to Prevent Cyclone

Disaster
 Construction of storm shelters.
Afforestation
Connecting roads for evacuating people to
safer areas.
Generating public awareness about the
measures that can be taken by the people
to avoid damage.
Advanced technology like satellite and Radar
cyclone alert gives updated information in
advance of any expected storm and
cyclone.

WHEN A CYCLONE WARNING IS ISSUED

• Park vehicles under solid shelter
• Put outdoor furniture inside with other loose items.
• Close shutters or heavily tape all windows.
• Remain indoors. Stay tuned to your local radio/TV for
further information.
ON WARNING OF LOCAL EVACUATION
• Lock doors; turn off power, gas, and water; take your
evacuation and emergency kits.
• If evacuating to a public shelter or higher location, follow
Emergency Services directions.
• If going to a public shelter, take bedding needs and basic
necessities.
WHEN THE CYCLONE STRIKES
• Disconnect all electrical appliances. Listen to your battery
radio for updates.
• Stay inside and shelter {well clear of windows) in the
strongest part of the building, 
i.e. cellar, internal
hallway or bathroom.
• If the building starts to break up, protect yourself with
 mattresses, rugs or blankets under a
strong table.
If driving, stop - but well away from the sea and clear of
trees, power lines and streams. Stay in the vehicle.
AFTER THE CYCLONE
• Don't go outside until officially advised it is safe.
• Check for gas leaks. Don't use electric appliances if wet.
• Beware of damaged power lines, bridges, buildings, trees,
and don't enter floodwaters.
• Heed all warnings and Check/help neighbours .
out more about tropical cyclones on the Met Office website: www.tinyurl.com/agnvv75

This ‘surviving typhoons’ PDF is written for the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan:
www.tinyurl.com/44zvr3v