UNIT-V

Cyclones: Cyclones are centers of low atmospheric pressure, in which the air pressure increases
from the centre to the outer areas. Consequently winds flow from outside to the centres. In cyclones
winds blow in an anticlock-wise direction in the north ern hemisphere and in clock-wise in the
southern hemisphere. On the basis of their location and physical properties cyclones are of two
types; temperate or mid latitude cyclones cyclones and tropical or low latitude cyclones. Here a
description of only tropical cyclone is given.The use of word ‘cyclone’ is implied for tropical cyclone
here onwards.

(a) Temperate Cyclones: Temperate cyclones are formed along a front in mid-latitudes between 35°
and 65° N and S. They blow from west to east and are more pronounced in winter season. Atlantic
Ocean and North West Europe are major regions of temperate cyclones. They are generally
extensive having a thickness of 9 to11 kilometers and with 1040-1920 km short and long diametres
respectively. Each such cyclone alternates with a high pressure anticyclone. The weather associated
with the cyclone is drizzling rain and of cloudy nature for number of days. The anticyclone weather is
sunny, calm and of cold waves.

b) Tropical Cyclones and Coastal Erosion: Tropical cyclones are formed along the zone of confluence
of north-east and south-east trade winds. This zone is known as the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ). Cyclones generally occur in Mexico, South-Western and North Pacific Ocean, North Indian
Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. These cyclones differ from temperate cyclones in many ways. There
are no clear warm and cold fronts as temperature seldom differs in Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.
They do not have well-defined pattern of winds and are energised by convectional currents within
them. Generally, these are shallow depressions and the velocity of winds is weak. These are not
accompanied by anticyclones. The arrangement of isobars is almost circular. These are not extensive
and have the diametres of 160-640km. However, a few of them become very violent and cause
destruction in the regions of their influence. They are called hurricanes in the Carribean Sea,
typhoons in the China, Japan and phillipines, cyclones in the Indian Ocean and willy-willies in
Northern Australia.

Tropical cyclones often cause destruction on the coasts. You would have heard cyclones striking
Indian coasts in summer and autumn months. They cause heavy loss of life and property in these
regions. The steeper pressure gradient causing strong high velocity winds and torrential rainfall
bursting upon a restricted area combine to create distructive storms. However about 8 to 48 km.
area around their centre called the eye of these stormy cyclones remains calm and rainless. If this
eye is detected, it is possible for the modern science to stop further development of these strong
cyclones and thus protecting us from them.

(Way of Cyclone)

Sea level changes, its impact on coastal areas and coastal zone management :

Cyclone is a violent circular stormy, in which high velocity winds blow from out side to the centre
and are associated with torrential rain. Cyclones play an important role in the general circulation of
the atmosphere. A fully developed cyclone can transfer 3.5 billion tons of warm humid air within an
hour. Cyclone is a phenomenon. It is concentrated to certain seasonal cyclic segment. In India, most
of the cyclones occur in the post monsoon season, i.e. from October to December or in pre-
monsoon season from April to May. The life span of a cyclone is generally from 7 to 14 days. The
cyclone, with its whole system, moves forward from east to west (in Bay of Bengal) with a speed of
15 to 30 km per hour. The cyclone that struck orissa, originated near Andaman & Nicobar Islands and
reached Orissa on 29-10-1999 after many days. The movement of cyclone in a direction is like the
movement of a spinning top. Cyclones originate over the sea surface and dissipate as they reach
land. The eastern coast of India is the most cyclone affected region. The cyclone prone states are;
West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu: Western coast is affected by the cyclones
which originate in the Arabian Sea. Gujarat on the west coast, is most affected by cyclones. The
coastal areas and interior of Maharstra are affected by cyclones too. More cyclones originate in the
Bay of Bengal and the Arabain Sea than any other seas of the world.

The violent winds of a cyclone destroy whatever come in their way from; thatched cottage to the
palaces, forts built of concrete, iron and stones. Trees are uprooted. Lines of electricity and
communication are destroyed. Torrential rains cause floods. Floods wreak havoc all around. High sea
waves are generated in the sea by speedy cyclonic winds. They strike the coastal areas like high wall
of water and flood the areas upto 10-15 km from the coast. In these areas houses, crops, roads,
buildings, villages and cities one and all are submerged. Landslides triggered by cy clonic rains are
more devastating. Developed countries have evolved measures to mitigate the fury of cyclones. The
warning of cyclone is issued. They are broadcasted and telecasted at right time. This saves the life of
people. On the contrary the people in developing countries get premature deaths. In USA, a fierce
hurricane named Hugho struck in Septem ber 1989. Only 21 people lost their lives due to its impact,
because a timely warming was issued, but contrary to this 1,39,000 people lost their lives in
Bangladesh when a cyclone struck the country in 1991.

coastal zone management is a process for the management of the coast using an integrated
approach, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographical and political boundaries,
in an attempt to achieve sustainability. The basic process includes Formulation of Integrated Coastal
Zone Management Plan, Lessen the coastal erosion, Reduce vulnerability to disaster, Biodiversity
conservation, Livelihood security, Pollution/ environmental quality management, Improvement and
conservation of cultural/ archaeological assets etc.
Climate Change: Emissions and Global Warming

The planet earth has witnessed many variations in climate since the beginning. Geological records
show alteration of glacial and inter-glacial periods. The geomorphological features, especially in high
altitudes and high latitudes, exhibit traces of advances and retreats of glaciers. The sediment
deposits in glacial lakes also reveal the occurrence of warm and cold periods. The rings in the trees
provide clues about wet and dry periods. Historical records describe the vagaries in climate. All these
evidences indicate that change in climate is a natural and continuous process.

Climate in the recent past witnessed warm, wet, cold and dry periods, Climatologists of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have reviewed the results of several experiments
in order to estimate changes in climate in the course of this century. These studies have shown that
in the near future, the global mean surface temperature will rise by 1.4° to 5.8°C. Warming will be
greatest over land areas, and at high latitudes. The frequency of weather extremes is likely to
increase leading to floods or drought. There will be fewer cold spells but more heat waves. The
frequency and intensity of El Niño is likely to increase. Global mean sea level is projected to rise by 9
to 88 cm by the year 2100. More than half of the world’s population now lives within 60km of the
sea. They are likely to be seriously impacted by an ingress of salt water and by the rising sea. Some
of the most vulnerable regions are the Nile delta in Egypt, the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in
Bangladesh, and many small islands including the Marshall Islands and the Maldives, (WHO, 2001). A
changing climate would bring about changes in the frequency and/or intensity of these extremes.

Global warming:

Global Warming Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s
lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution.
Much of the recent observed and projected global warming is human-induced. It is caused by man-
made increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels and
deforestation. Adding carbon dioxide, methane and such other gases (that have the potential to
absorb heat) to the atmosphere with no other changes will make our planet’s surface warmer. The
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and CH4 have increased by 31 per cent and 149 per
cent respectively above pre-industrial levels since 1750. During the past century, the atmospheric
temperature has risen by 1.1°F (0.6°C) and sea level has risen several inches. Some of the longer-
term results of global warming are melting of polar ice with a resulting rise in sea level and coastal
flooding; disruption of drinking water supplies dependent on snow melts; extinction of species as
ecological niches disappear; more frequent tropical storms; and an increased incidence of tropical
diseases.

Factors: Among factors that may be contributing to global warming are the burning of coal and
petroleum products (sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone); deforestation,
which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; methane gas released in animal
waste; and increased cattle production, which contributes to deforestation, methane production,
and use of fossil fuels. A UN Conference on Climate Change, held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, resulted in
an international agreement to fight global warming which called for reductions in emissions of
greenhouse gases by industrialised nations.
Green House Gases(GHGs) as Major Factors: The primary GHGs of concern today are carbon dioxide
(CO2), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone (O3). Some other
gases such as nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) easily react with GHGs and affect their
concentration in the atmosphere. The effectiveness of any given GHG molecule will depend on the
magnitude of the increase in its concentration, its life time in the atmosphere and the wavelength of
radiation that it absorbs. The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are highly effective. Ozone which absorbs
ultra violet radiation in the stratosphere is very effective in absorbing terrestrial radiation when it is
present in the lower troposphere. Another important point to be noted is that the more time the
GHG molecule remains in the atmosphere, the longer it will take for earth’s atmospheric system to
recover from any change brought about by the latter. The largest concentration of GHGs in the
atmosphere is carbon dioxide. The emission of CO2 comes mainly from fossil fuel combustion (oil,
gas and coal). Forests and oceans are the sinks for the carbon dioxide. Forests use CO2 in their
growth. So, deforestation due to changes in land use, also increases the concentration of Co2. The
time taken for atmospheric CO2 to adjust to changes in sources to sinks is 20-50 years. It is rising at
about 0.5 per cent annually. Doubling of concentration of CO2 over pre-industrial level is used as an
index for estimating the changes in climate in climatic models. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are
products of human activity. Ozone occurs in the stratosphere where ultra-violet rays convert oxygen
into ozone. Thus, ultra violet rays do not reach the earth’s surface. The CFCs which drift into the
stratosphere destroy the ozone. Large depletion of ozone occurs over Antarctica. The depletion of
ozone concentration in the stratosphere is called the ozone hole. This allows the ultra violet rays to
pass through the troposphere.

The increasing trend in the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere may, in the long run, warm up
the earth. Once the global warming sets in, it will be difficult to reverse it. The effect of global
warming may not be uniform everywhere. Nevertheless, the adverse effect due to global warming
will adversely affect the life supporting system. Rise in the sea level due to melting of glaciers and
ice-caps and thermal expansion of the sea may inundate large parts of the coastal area and islands,
leading to social problems. This is another cause for serious concern for the world community.
Impact on sea level in south Asian region: The region’s long and heavily settled coastlines are
seriously threatened by sea-level rise. In Bangladesh alone, sea level is predicted to rise
45 centimeters by 2050, affecting 10%–15% of the land area and an estimated 35 million people. Sea
level is also projected to rise by around 15–38 centimeters in India by 2050, placing major cities
driving regional growth at risk, including Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. A high proportion of Sri Lankan
coastal land is less than 1 meter above sea level, and could be submerged with the rising tides, along
with critical transport infrastructure.The Maldives’ very survival is in jeopardy, as the average height
of its islands is 1.5 meters above sea level, and its highest point is less than 2 meters above sea level.
The grave risks posed by sea-level rise could trigger large-scale migration, with ripple effects across
borders. Sea-level rise gives way to saline water intrusion, threatening drinking water supply,
agriculture, and aquaculture. In Bangladesh, more than 100 million hectares of arable land are
affected. All of the Maldives is affected by saline water intrusion due to rising sea levels.

Our country occupies south central peninsula of Asia. India consists of the main land and two groups
of islands Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea.
Significant portions of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are prone to recurrent flooding due to
such factors as heavy monsoon rains, blocked natural drainage, and low elevation. Melting glaciers
and rising seas with greater probability of flooding and storm surges caused by climate change will
put Bangladesh at particular risk, as three large river systems converge there, merging the rainwater
they collect from a catchment area 12 times the size of the country. Bangladesh floods could last up
to 9 months a year. In 2007, abnormal monsoon rains caught South Asia unprepared to cope with
the floods that affected an estimated 30 million people from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. While
rainfall patterns may continue to vary, recently observed trends in the increasing intensity of tropical
cyclones and storm surges, partly attributable to rising sea surface temperatures, raise the possibility
of an even stormier future.

Environmental Disruption and their implications:

Environmental Disruption or Degradation, is the process by which our environment i.e., air, water
and land, is progressively contaminated, over exploited and destroyed. When the environment
becomes less valuable or damaged, environmental degradation is said to occur. In specific term,
environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources
such as air, water, soil and forest; the destruction of eco-systems and the extinction of wildlife.

Implications Of Environmental Degradation: The degradation of environment is a very serious

concern. And it is occurring primarily due to excessive and reckless exploitation and unscientific
management of natural resources. In fact, it has emerged as a global challenge for all the countries
of the world. The pollution of air, water and soil caused by emission of harmful gases, release of
industrial effluents, urban wastes and radio-active wastes and reckless use of fertilizers and
pesticides is threatening the very survival of modern civilization. If you go through the following facts
stated below , you may realize the seriousness of environmental degradation;

About 50 percent of geographical area of India suffers from varying degrees of degradation caused
by deforestation, overgrazing, agricultural mismanagement, shifting cultivation, soil erosion, soil
salination, water logging, alkalinity, and acid rains. Over 5.3 billion tonnes of top soil is lost every
year due to soil erosion. The average soil loss is estimated to be over 16 tonnes per hectares per
year which translates into approximately 1 millimetre (mm) each year or 1 centimetre (cm) every
decade. It takes nature about a thousand years to form one cm of soil. The production of cereals
will drop remarkably due to global warming. Scientist around the world are getting increasingly
alarmed over global warming’s impact on human health. Warming climate is responsible for spread
of serious infectious diseases. Increasing temperatures are lengthening the growing season of
some crops. Himalayan glaciers are melting. The rivers originating in Himalayas will get dried.
Westerly winds have been disrupted this year (2009) causing less rain during the winter season.

Because of the serious consequences of environmental degradation(refer:Unit-II,Environmental

pollution,Development,Population growth part), it has been a matter of great concern. Very often it
is linked with development. There is a strongly expressed point of view that the major reason of
environmental degradation has been the model of development adopted by human society. The
concept of sustainable development has emerged as an alternative model that will halt
environmental degradation. Although sustainable development has been used in a number of
contexts with different meanings, it has a particular meaning in the context of environment and
development relationships.