- A cyclonic storm known as Biparjoy has formed. It is a tropical cyclone.
- It was based about 850 kilometres west of Goa and 900 kilometres southwest of Mumbai.
- The cyclone is expected to strengthen over the next three days and become a severe cyclonic storm by June 13.
- It would provide squally weather with wind gusts reaching 35-45 kmph in the Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra coastlines.
- The IMD has not yet anticipated any significant influence on Arabian Sea countries such as India, Oman, Iran, and Pakistan.
How did it get its name?
- The name ‘Biparjoy’ was suggested by Bangladesh, and the word means ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’ in Bengali. Following Biparjoy, the following cyclone will be named ‘Tej’ at the request of India.
- Rotating Basis for Naming: Countries name cyclones on a rotating basis, following certain existing standards.
- RSMC and TCWC Responsibilities: There are six regional specialised meteorology centres (RSMCs) and five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) in charge of issuing advisories and identifying tropical storms around the world.
- IMD’s Role: Under the WMO/Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) Panel, IMD is one of six RSMCs providing tropical cyclone and storm surge alerts to 13 member nations.
- The IMD: RSMC, New Delhi, is also tasked with naming tropical cyclones that form over the north Indian Ocean, encompassing the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- Naming Guidelines: When naming cyclones, some principles must be followed, such as remaining politically, religiously, culturally, and gender neutral, avoiding insulting or cruel names, and making the name brief and easy to say.
- Following Bangladesh, the next cyclone will be called ‘Tej’ based on India’s recommendation.
A Quick Recap of the Arabian Sea Cyclones
- Cyclone Frequency: It is not uncommon for cyclones to form in the Arabian Sea. There are fewer cyclones than in the Bay of Bengal, although they do occur.
- Months that are favourable: June is one of the best months for cyclone formation in the Arabian Sea.
- Cyclone Formation Factors: Cyclones form as a result of low-pressure systems over warm water. The Bay of Bengal is slightly warmer, but the Arabian Sea is also warming owing to climate change, which is increasing the number of cyclones.
- Weather Systems and the Coriolis Effect: The Coriolis Effect causes air to blow in an anticlockwise direction in the northern hemisphere during a depression or low-pressure situation.
Climate Change’s Role
- The frequency of extremely severe cyclonic storms has grown across the Arabian Sea since 1990, but it has remained constant over the Bay of Bengal.
- A 2021 study found that the strength, frequency, and duration of cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea were increasing.
- The roughly quadrupled collected cyclone energy indicates warming, reflecting the amount of warming in recent years.
Source: https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/storm-chasing-here-s-how-cyclone-biparjoy-got-its-name-and-more-123060800789_1.html#:~:text=How%20did%20the%20cyclone%20get,(WMO)%20countries%20in%202020.