Cyclone Management

Dani . YMBA 1st Year

CycloneA cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid

motion rotating in the same direction as the earth.

This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth.

Most large-scale cyclonic circulations are centered on areas of low atmospheric pressure.

Types of cyclones

Polar cyclonePolar lowsExtratropical cycloneSubtropical cycloneTropical cycloneMesoscale cyclone

Polar cycloneA polar, sub-polar, or Arctic cyclone (also known as a polar vortex) is a vast area of low pressure which strengthens in the winter and weakens in the summer. A polar cyclone is a low pressure weather system, usually spanning 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), in which the air circulates in a counterclockwise direction in the northern hemisphere, and a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.

Polar lowsA polar low is a small-scale, short-lived atmospheric low pressure system (depression) that is found over the ocean areas poleward of the main polar front in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The systems usually have a horizontal length scale of less than 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) and exist for no more than a couple of days.

Extratropical cycloneAn extratropical cyclone is a synoptic scale low pressure weather system that has neither tropical nor polar characteristics, being connected with fronts and horizontal gradients in temperature and dew point otherwise known as "baroclinic zones".

Subtropical cycloneA subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical cyclone and some characteristics of an extratropical cyclone.

Tropical cycloneA tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and flooding rain. A tropical cyclone feeds on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapour contained in the moist air.

Mesoscale cycloneA mesocyclone is a vortex of air, approximately 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in diameter (the mesoscale of meteorology), within a convective storm. About 1700 mesocyclones form annually across the United States, but only half produce tornadoes.

Hurricane Wilma over Florida in September 2005 (NOAA composite satellite image)

Killer CyclonesThere are records of many killer cyclones that consumed tens of thousands of human lives. The Kyushu typhoon of Japan (1281) that killed more than100,000 people.The Canton typhoon of China (1862) that took 37,000 lives.The Midnapore (1864) and the Backergunj (1876) cyclone of Bengal that claimed 75,000 and 200,000 lives respectively.And the Galveston hurricane of Texas (1900) that left12,000 dead.

Cyclones that Killed more than 1000 persons since 1950s(Basin : North Indian Ocean)

Cyclone Year Countries Deaths

Cyclone 1963 East Pakistan 22,000

Cyclone 1965 East Pakistan 17,000

Cyclone 1965 East Pakistan 30,000

Cyclone 1965 Karachi, Pakistan 10,000

Cyclone Bhola 1970 East Pakistan 300,000

Cyclone 1985 Bangladesh 10,000

Cyclone Gorky 1991 Bangladesh 131,000

Cyclone 1971 Orissa, India 10,000

Cyclone 1977 Andhra, India 20000

Cyclone 1996 Andhra, India 1,000

Cyclone 1998 Gujarat, India 1,000

Cyclone 1999 Orissa, India 9,500

The Gujarat Cyclone, 1998

The Gujarat Cyclone of 1998 with two landfallsand a wind velocity between 170-200 kmph,ripped through the industrial heart of Gujarat andinflicted an economic loss of nearly Rupees 2,500crores. The Kandla Port, gateway to the granariesof north India and the industrial belt of west andnorth India, and neighboring facilities sufferedextensive damage and a loss of nearly 600 crores.

Damaged berthing facilities at Kandla Port, Gujarat

The corporate sector including Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar oil refinery suffered losses amounting to Rupees 100 crore and Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation’s output was disrupted tothe tune of 2,000 tonnes per day. The wind lifted the heavy cranes and machinery and twisted the transmission towers.

Twisted 325 foot Microwave Tower, Porbander Gujarat

The Orissa Super-Cyclone, 1999:The Orissa Super-Cyclone in 1999 inflicted a cumulative loss of nearly 1,000 crores on the industrial sector. The major industries like the Paradeep Port and Oswal Fertilizers suffered heavy losses. A large number of industrial units remained inundated for days together.

Chart showing cyclone relief activities

National Disaster Management Framework

Awareness GenerationTrainingMock DrillsDevelopment of on-site and off-site Disaster Management PlansPreparation of Inventory of ResourcesSensitization ProgrammesAnnual Event on DM

Immediate steps to be taken after the hit of cyclone

Make sufficient stock of food grains or food packets, kerosene lanterns and other dry food commodities are available for distribution to the victims.Medicines ( Painkiller, Surgical cotton and Bandage Materials, etc.)Electricity Board should clear the roads of fallen electric poles and restore power supply as quickly as possible. Communications facilities are likely to get disrupted, both land and telecommunications) hence make immediate arrangements for satellite phones, mobile phones, etc.

All the Government vehicles should be kept in road-worthy condition for putting them to use in the emergency.A large number of people are likely to become homeless as their houses may wash away or get destroyed Hence make arrangements for proper shelter material such as Tents, Water, Blankets, Utensils, etc

SourcesWikipediaSAARC disaster managementScribdGoogleCII(Confederation of Indian Industry) and Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management DivisionYouTube