Cyclone Mandous

Cyclone Mandous

#GS-01 Geography, #GS-03 Disaster Management

For Prelims

Tropical Cyclone:

  • Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a lowpressure
  • The air circulates in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern
  • Tropical cyclones are strong storms that form over tropical waters and then travel inland, wreaking havoc with violent winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges.
  • Tropical cyclones are one of the world’s most destructive natural disasters.
  • Tropical cyclones form over warm tropical oceans and intensify.
  • The World Meteorological Organisation uses the term ‘Tropical Cyclone’ to cover weather systems in which winds exceedGale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour).

Factors promoting formation of Cyclones:

  • A sea with large surface area with a temperature above 27° C.
  • Presence of the Coriolis force.
  • Small variations in the vertical wind
  • A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
  • Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Who names the Cyclones:

  • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
  • There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.

Cyclone Mandous:

  • Cyclone Mandous (meaning treasure box) is a slow-moving cyclone that often absorbs a lot of moisture.
  • It carries a large amount of rainfall and gains strength in the form of wind speeds.
  • The name has been suggested by the United Arab Emirates.
  • It is moving towards Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.
  • Several parts of Chennai are facing heavy rainfall and strong winds amid cyclone Mandous.
  • The cyclonic storm Mandous weakened into a deep depression over north Tamil Nadu coast.
  • To move nearly west-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a depression by noon of 10th December.

Source “Rain lashes T.N. as cyclone makes landfall