Cyclone Dana

Cyclone Dana is a severe cyclonic storm forming over the Bay of Bengal, expected to impact the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal in India.

The IMD has predicted its landfall between Puri, Odisha, and Sagar Island, West Bengal.

GS-01 (Geography)

Cyclones are weather systems characterized by a central area of low pressure, surrounded by closed isobars, with pressure gradually increasing outward.
It is characterized by rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area that brings violent storms and adverse weather conditions.
Air flows into the low-pressure zone from all directions, and the Coriolis Effect causes the wind to curve to the right of its original path. This results in a counterclockwise rotation around the low-pressure area and convergence of air near the cyclone’s center.
As the air converges, it is forced upward, and divergence at higher altitudes moves air away from the center. Essentially, a cyclone involves low-level air convergence and upper-level air divergence, with rising air in the middle. For a cyclone to form, upper-level air divergence must occur; otherwise, the system cannot sustain itself.
It is generally originated in warm tropical or subtropical waters.
And, they are classified into tropical cyclones and extratropical cyclones.
The North Indian Ocean that covers the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal is a key area where cyclones form.

Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons are essentially the same type of storm, but they are named differently depending on where they occur:

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)- Early warnings, issued within 24 hours of a hazard, can reduce the damage of that event by 30%. India must improve weather forecasting and early warning systems to reduce the impact alongside investing in infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.

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