Information collected by satellites

suggests that cyclones form in low-

pressure zones over warm
intertropical seas. These are gigantic
and deadly storms that cause havoc
and damage.

Around 70 to 90 cyclones form every

year around the globe.

A Brief About Cyclones

The storms caused by wind blowing
around the low-pressure areas are
called cyclones. Similarly, storms
around the high-pressure areas are
called anticyclones. There are types
of cyclones:

1. Tropical Cyclone
Ÿ The storms that originate over a
warm tropical ocean are termed as
tropical cyclones.
Ÿ Low atmospheric pressure, high
winds and heavy rainfall are
characteristics of these types of
cyclones.

Ÿ Parts of the Atlantic region, pacific

ocean, Indian ocean witness tropical
cyclones affecting Gulf Coast of
North America, northwestern
Australia, and eastern India and
Bangladesh along with other areas.

2. Temperate Cyclone

Ÿ These are storms that occur outside

the tropics.

Ÿ These are referred to as extratropical

cyclones. Other names are frontal
cyclones and wave cyclones.
Ÿ They occur in polar regions,
temperate and high latitudes.
How are Cyclones
Formed?

In the above diagram, we see how

cyclones are formed. The rising of
warm air is shown using the green
lines while the cool air sinking is
shown using the red arrows.
Ÿ The cyclone is formed when the
warm, moist air rises upward over the
ocean. As this air moves up, there is
a formation of
 a low-pressure area below.

Ÿ Now the low-pressure area is filled

with the high-pressure air from the
surroundings. Again, the next batch
of cool air gets warm and moist over
the ocean moving upward. This once
again results in the formation of a
low-pressure area. The cycle
continues.

Ÿ This continuous cycle results in the

formation of clouds in the air. More
clouds are formed as the water from
the ocean evaporates.

Ÿ This leads to the formation of the

storm system. As the storm system
rotates faster, an eye is formed in the
centre. The eye of the storm is
considered to be the calm and clear
part. The air pressure in the eye of
the storm is low.
Ÿ Depending on the strength of the
winds produced, the cyclones are
divided into different classes.

What Are the Different

Categories of Cyclones?

The categories of a cyclone depend

on wind strength. From the following
table, We will be able to estimate
the damage a cyclone may
cause after landfall based on wind
speed.
 What Are the Causes of
a Cyclone?

Here are the factors responsible for

cyclone formation -

Ÿ Warm temperature at sea surfaces.

Ÿ Coriolis force impact area that forms

a low-pressure zone.

Ÿ Atmospheric instability.

Ÿ Increased humidity in the lower to

middle levels of the troposphere.

Ÿ Low vertical wind shear.

Ÿ Pre-existing low-level disturbance or
focus.

Other Names of Cyclone

The cyclone is known to have
different names in different regions of
the world, and
they are:

Cyclone Disaster
Management
The above-mentioned data signifies
the importance of cyclone disaster
management in India to mitigate
personal and economic losses.

Mitigation Measures

The mitigation measures as

proposed by the UN-HABITAT are
given below:
Ÿ Hazard Mapping – It suggests that
using hazard mapping, one can
predict the vulnerable areas affected
by the storms.
 It maps the pattern of old cyclones
using their wind speed, areas
affected, flooding frequency etc.

Ÿ Land use planning – With the

effective implementation of land use
planning, the key activities and
settlements can be avoided in the
most vulnerable areas. For example,
a settlement in the floodplains is at
utmost risk. Hence, authorities should
plan ahead to avoid such risks.

Ÿ Engineered Structures – These

structures withstand the wind forces
and prove to mitigate the losses. The
public infrastructure of the country
should be designed keeping in mind
the hazard mapping of the cyclone.

Ÿ Cyclone Sheltering – At national,

state and regional level, the
construction of
 cyclone shelters should be taken up
to help the vulnerable community
from cyclones. The shelters should
be built considering the population
density, transportation and
communication, distance from the
affected areas of the past, and the
areas’ topography.

Ÿ Flood Management – As the

cyclonic storms lead to heavy rainfall
that further lead to flooding in various
areas; important should be given to
the flood management. The drainage
systems should be well-designed to
mitigate flooding. The participation
both from the government and the
local community is required for this.
(Read about Floods in the linked
article.)

Ÿ Vegetation Cover Improvement –

To increase the water infiltration
capacity, improving vegetation cover
is of high
 importance. Planting trees in rows,
coastal shelterbelt plantations,
mangrove shelterbelt plantations, etc
can help break the wind force and
mitigate the severe losses.

Ÿ Mangrove Plantation – The

ecologically-efficient mangroves
should be planted more. India has 3
per cent of the world’s mangroves
cover. The root systems of
mangroves help in mitigating
tsunamis, soil erosion etc. (Read
about important facts, the
significance of Mangroves in the
linked article.)

Ÿ Saline Embankment – Along the

coast, saline embankments help
protect habitation, agricultural crops,
and other important installations.
Ÿ Levees – They act as an obstruction
to the wind forces and also provide a
shelter
 during floods. (Learn about important
terms related to rivers in the linked
article.)

Ÿ Artificial Hills – These act as the

refuge during flooding, and should be
taken up in the right areas.

Ÿ Awareness of the public – The

participation of the community
increases with the number of public
awareness initiatives. The
governments at all levels should
initiate programs bringing awareness
about the natural calamities and
making provisions for higher local
participation in the mitigation
process.

India’s Cyclone Disaster

Management Initiatives
Let us read about a few
governmental
 initiatives for cyclone management in
India:

1. National Cyclone Risk Mitigation

Project

2. Integrated Coastal Zone

Management (ICZM) Project

3. Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) –

The CRZ Notification 2018 and 2019
bring new reforms w.r.t sustainable
development of coastal areas. Read
in detail about the Coastal Regulation
Zones in the linked article.

3. IMD’s Colour Coding of Cyclones