Cyclones

Introduction 

Cyclones are defined by inward-spiraling winds that revolve around a low-pressure zone or a cyclone is a large mass of wind that rotates around the center of low atmospheric pressure. They rotate clockwise in the South direction and anticlockwise in the North direction. They prevail in almost all parts of the world except the equatorial belt. Cyclones are circular storms associated with rain and snow. On the other hand, anticyclones as the name itself suggests are the opposite of cyclones. They are a large mass of winds that rotates around the center of the high atmospheric pressure. They rotate clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern hemisphere. 

What are cyclones?

A cyclone is a wind storm that advances quickly inward and has a low-pressure area in the center. It is the huge mass of air that surrounds a strong atmospheric center. The spiral shape of the storm is created by internal winds blowing across a region of low pressure. The polar vortex and extratropical cyclones are the largest low-pressure systems on a broad scale (synoptic scale). Tropical cyclones, such as tropical cyclones and subtropical cyclones, are also included on the synchronous scale.

Wind movement and pressure disparities are even off by cyclones all around the world. Cyclones’ intricate heat exchange process occurs between different latitudinal zones. Furthermore, cyclones influence precipitation by facilitating the lifting of moist air from the oceans and transporting it to the adjacent landmasses.

How are cyclones formed?

Only at the equator, in warm ocean waters, do tropical cyclones form. When warm, moist air at the ocean’s surface rises upward, it forms a cyclone. A low-pressure zone forms beneath the ocean when air rises away from the surface. It allows air from higher-pressure areas to flow toward the low-pressure area.

Cyclones resemble massive cloud discs. They range in thickness from 10 to 15 kilometers. They could have a diameter of up to 1,000 kilometers. They’re made up of bands of storm clouds coiled into a spiral around the cyclone’s eye, which is a zone of extremely low pressure. Winds are drawn inwards into the cyclone’s eye, yet they are unable to penetrate it. When winds reach the eye’s periphery, they become extremely powerful. They begin to spiral about the eye, climbing to the cloud’s peak before dissipating.

Types of cyclones 

Hurricanes, Cyclone, Typhoons, and Tornadoes- Tornadoes spin in a small region but are taller than cyclones and move in a circle over a large area. A typhoon is simply a powerful storm with strong winds capable of uprooting several trees. A hurricane is a powerful windstorm with a radius of 500-1000 miles.

Mesocyclones: Tornado Factories- They’re essentially an air vortex amid a convective storm. They are often highly cyclonic in nature and occur in supercells. They are considered the strongest and most dangerous thunderstorms. The formation of wall clouds from these mesocyclones eventually leads to the formation of a funnel cloud.

Mid-latitude or Extratropical Cyclones- An extratropical cyclone it is also known as mid-latitude cyclone) is a type of cyclone. It is a large low-pressure weather area with clouds, rain, and heavy wind. They occur in areas that are between latitudes 30° – 60° from the equator.

Polar Lows, aka “Arctic Hurricanes”- 

Polar lows are sometimes referred to as “Arctic hurricanes” by meteorologists in the Northern Hemisphere. They are low-pressure depressions that last for a short period of time. 

 Cyclones in India

India is the most vulnerable country in the North Indian Ocean that is prone to tropical cyclones in the basin either from east or west. If we talk about how many cyclones hit India? So, on average 2-3 tropical cyclones hit India each year. with around one of them becoming a severe tropical storm.  The region of south Bengal was hit by nine severe cyclones, the highest number in the country. Six and five strong cyclonic storms hit Srikakulam and Ganjam districts, respectively.

The cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean in 2019 was the most active ever recorded in Northern India. The following is a list of cyclones that impacted Indian states between 2020 and 2021.

1. Cyclone Jawad
2. Cyclone Gulaab
3. Cyclone Tauktae
4. Cyclone Yaas
5. Cyclone Nisarga
6. Cyclone Amphan
7. Cyclone Kyarr 
8. Cyclone Maha
9. Cyclone Vayu
10. Cyclone Hikka

Conclusion 

Cyclones are a type of weather phenomenon that has had a huge impact on humanity since the dawn of time. Furthermore, cyclones can be extremely dangerous to humans, as they have the potential to cause extensive destruction. In the northern hemisphere, cyclonic wind movements are anti-clockwise, but in the southern hemisphere, they are clockwise. Furthermore, depending on the place of origin and main tracks followed, cyclones can be tropical or temperate/extra-tropical.

Tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones, and tornadoes are the three main types of cyclones. A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure weather system with structured thunderstorms but no fronts. Furthermore, tropical cyclone formation occurs over warm ocean waters.