Cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ makes landfall in West Bengal and Bangladesh Coast | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    Cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ makes landfall in West Bengal and Bangladesh Coast

    Posted 28 May 2024

    2 min read

    Name ‘Remal’ of this tropical cyclone that formed in the Bay of Bengal, was chosen by Oman and means ‘sand’ in Arabic. 

    About Tropical Cyclones

    • These are rapidly rotating storms that are non-frontal low-pressure system originating over tropical oceans.
    • Known as Cyclones (Indian Ocean), Hurricanes (Atlantic), Typhoons (Western Pacific and South China Sea) and Willy-willies (Western Australia).
    • They get energy from condensation in towering cumulonimbus clouds around the storm centre (eye). 
      • Eye is a region of calm with subsiding air. 
      • When they reach land (landfall), moisture supply stops and the storm dissipates.

    Favourable Conditions for Tropical Cyclones

    • Sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C.
    • Presence of Coriolis force.
      • Tropical cyclones are not formed near equator due to absence of Coriolis force. 
    • Small variations in vertical wind speed.
    • A pre-existing weak low-pressure area.

    IMD’s colour coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas

    • Green: Pre Cyclone Watch, issued 72 hours in advance.
    • Yellow: Cyclone Alert, is issued at least 48 hours in advance.
    • Orange: Cyclone Warning, issued at least 24 hours in advance. 
    • Red: Post Landfall Outlook, is issued at least 12 hours in advance. 

    Naming of Tropical Cyclones 

    • World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a specialized agency of UN, have adopted a cyclone naming process. 
    • A list of cyclone names is prepared by the Tropical Cyclone Regional Body (TCRB) responsible for an ocean basin. 
    • WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, one of five TCRBs assigns names to tropical cyclones in North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea). 
      • Its members include Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
      • All member countries provided a list of 13 names each which are used sequentially.
    • Tags :
    • Tropical Cyclones
    • Cyclone Remal
    • Cyclone Warning
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