Vol-1, Issue-13, December 1-15, 2015 Geography and You Free Copy

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Cyclones

■ Tropical ■ Tropical cyclones: fact file ■ Structure of a ■ Cyclone Formation ■ Observational Network for Cyclones ■ Atmospheric Phenomena: Altocumulus Cloud (AC)

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 1 Be a Weather Climate A fortnightly online magazine on weather, water and hazards journalist Volume 1 • Issue 13 • December 2015 FREE COPY

Advisor Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Dr. Ajit Tyagi, Former Director General, No weather India Meteorological Department event is Editor too small Sulagna Chattopadhyay or too large Legal Advisor Krishnendu Datta REPORT NOW Correspondence/Editorial Office Now you can 1584, B-1, Vasant Kunj, put all the idle New Delhi-110070 weather talk Phone: 011-26122789 to good use. For G'nY subscriptions, renewals, Calling all, enquiries please contact: professionals Circulation Manager and amateurs to E-mail: [email protected] report about any Please visit our site at weather event www.geographyandyou.com for that they find further information. unusual. Weather ©IRIS Publication Pvt. Ltd. events such All rights reserved throughout the as lightning, world. Reproduction in any manner, cloud, hailstorm, part or whole, is prohibited. Printed, flooding, etc., published and owned by Sulagna are of special Chattopadhyay. interest to us. You may capture Research Credit short videos on your phone and LIGHTS (Learning in Geography, send it to us too. Humanities, Technology and Science) a not-for-profit research foundation Photographers are especially Published at welcome. IRIS Publication Pvt. Ltd. Geography and You does not take any There are PRIZES responsibility for returning unsolicited too. For the best publication material. entry in reporting, an award of Rs All disputes are subjected to the exclusive 1000 is offered. jurisdiction of competent courts and forums The report will be in Delhi/New Delhi only. published in G'nY CLIMATE. For the best photograph a cash prize of Rs 500 is offered, which will be printed in G'nY.

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Dear readers, Natural disasters in the current decade are occurring nearly five times Contents as often as they were in the 1970s, with both developed and developing countries bearing the burden. The  Feature frequency of geophysical disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis,volcanic eruptions and mass movements) 4 Tropical Cyclones remained broadly constant throughout this period, but a sustained rise in hydro-meteorological related 5 Tropical Cyclones: Fact File events (mainly floods and storms) pushed total 6 occurrences significantly higher. Since 2000, on an Structure of a Cyclone average of 341 hydro-meteorological related disasters 6 Cyclone Formation were recorded per annum, up 44% from the 1994- 2000 average and well over twice the level in 1980- 7 1989. Of all hydro-meteorological disasters, about Observational Network for Cyclones 89% were due to flooding and storms. But storms - Suman Goel were by far the bigger threat to life accounting for about 1.45 m of the 1.94 m global disaster deaths - Deadliest Hurricanes in History between 1971- 2010. Most of these deaths occurred - Deadliest Typhoons in History in developing and least developed countries. - Deadliest Cyclones in India However, in recent years there has been significant reduction in loss of lives because of improved - Recent Cyclones in India cyclone monitoring and warnings and disaster 11 Atmospheric Phenomena: preparedness. Indian coasts are vulnerable to cyclones. Altocumulus Cloud (AC) Awareness about the characteristic features of 12 News Updates disaster such as climatology, structure, associated hazards and warning system helps in disaster 13 Conference Alert preparedness. G'nY Climate propose to cover these topics related to cyclones in simple to understand format for the benefit of wider readership in two issues. Current issue covers nomenclature of cyclones in different oceans, structure of cyclones, conditions favourable for the formation of cyclones and observing network for monitoring of cyclones. Forecasting, Warning and mitigation will be covered in the next issue. Other stories of interest in this issue include report on Chennai Floods, El Nino update and news of Year 2015 turning out to be the hottest year on record as yet.

Dr. Ajit Tyagi

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 3 World

Tropical Cyclones

ropical Cyclones are intense low pressure systems formed over The average annual frequency of tropical cyclones in the north the seas in tropical areas where surface wind speeds exceed IndianOcean (Bay of Bengal and ) is about 5 (about 33 knots (64 kmph), Winds in a cyclonic storm rotates in 5-6 % of the Global annual average) and in the globe is about 86. counterT clock wise manner around a low pressure centre, termed The frequency is more in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian the '' of the storm. The eye is well known for being eerily calm Sea, the ratio being 4:1. as compared to the areas comprising the spinning 'arms' of the Average annual frequency in different basins: storm. The horizontal extent of a well developed is of the order of 100 to 1000 Km and its vertical extension is about Basin Tropical Storm frequency 10 to 15 Km. The word, ‘Cyclone’ is derived from the Greek word North Atlantic 12.1 ‘Cyclos’, meaning the coil. Eastern Pacific 16.6 Western Pacific 27.0 Types of Cyclones North Indian 4.8 The term 'cyclone' actually refers to several different types of storms. Some occur over land while others occur over water. But all South-West Indian 9.3 of them are spinning storms rotating around a low-pressure centre. Australian region 11.0 Tropical cyclones occur over tropical ocean regions causing devas- Southern Pacific 7.4

Climate tation in coastal areas. These form in areas deep with Global 86.0 over warm waters and have warm core and derive their energy from the of release of latent heat by thunderstorms. Classification of Storms Extra tropical cyclones, as name suggest, form in higher lati- These are classified in different categories primarily based on wind tudes, have cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the speed. Intensity of cyclones are also inferred from satellite imageries release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact. by T- numbers based on cloud pattern. The intensity of cyclone is These storms always have one or more fronts connected to them, also related to pressure drop at the centre of the storm. The more and can occur over land or ocean. An extra tropical cyclone can the drop in pressure in the central region, the more is the severity have winds as weak as a tropical depression, or as strong as a of the storm. Cyclonic storms are generally categorized according hurricane. Examples of extra tropical cyclones include blizzards, to the maximum wind speed associated with the storm( Table). If Nor'easters, and the ordinary low pressure systems that give the the maximum wind speed is between 34 - 47 knots (about 60-90 continents at mid-latitudes much of their precipitation. kmph) it is called a Cyclonic Storm. A Severe Cyclonic Storm will Tropical cyclones moving to higher latitudes become Extra- have maximum wind speeds ranging around 48 - 63 knots (about tropical storms when they caught up in a front and change from 90-120 kmph). If the maximum wind is 64-89 knots it will be warm core to cold core. Polar cyclones are cyclones that occur in called a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and when the wind is 90 -119 Polar Regions likeGreenland, Siberia and Antarctica. Polar cy- knots it is Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm and 120 knots and clones can form in any time of the year, although summer polar above, it isa Super Cyclonic storm. There is very little association cyclones are usually weaker than the ones that form in the winter. between intensity (either measured by maximum sustained winds These occur in areas that aren't very populated, hence the damage or by the lowest central pressure) and size (measured by radius of they cause ispretty minimal. gale force winds). In the United States, Hurricanes are termed Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or Storms in Different Oceans The location of a storm is an System Satellite Condition Associated Wind Speed important factor since it deter- (Abbreviation) ‘T’ No. of Sea Knots (Kmph) mines what we call it. For ex- Low Pressure Area (L) 1.0 Moderate <17 (<31) ample, if the storm occurs in the Depression (D) 1.5 Moderate to Rough 17 – 27 (31 – 49) Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Deep Depression (DD) 2.0 Very Rough 28 – 33 (50 - 61) Pacific, it's called a hurricane, Cyclonic Storm (CS) 2.5 – 3.0 High 34 – 47 (62 – 88) after theCaribbean god of evil- Severe Cyclonic Storm 3.5 Very High 48 – 63 (89 - 117) Hurricane. The same type of (SCS) Very Severe Cyclonic storm in the Northwest Pacific is 4.0 – 4.5 Phenomenal 64 – 89 (118 - 166) called a Typhoon, derived from Storm (VSCS) Extremely Severe the Arabic-Toofan. The same 5.0 – 6.0 Phenomenal 90 – 119 (167 - 221) storms in the South Pacific and Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) Super Cyclonic Storm Indian Ocean are called Tropi- 6.5 – 8.0 Phenomenal ≥120 (≥222) cal Cyclones. In Australia these (SuCS) storms are called ‘Willy-Willies’. Source: www.imd.gov.in

4 December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 G'nY CLIMATE 5, in rising order of intensity in keeping with increase in wind speed: November 30, the typhoon and cyclone seasons follow slightly  Category 1: wind 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h) different patterns. In the North-Eastern Pacific, the official  Category 2: winds 96-110 mph (154-177 km/h) season runs from May 15 to November 30. In the North-Western  Category 3: 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h) Pacific,typhoons are most common from late June through  Category 4: 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h) December. Maximum activity in Pacific and Atlantic basins take  Category 5: exceeding 157 mph (252 km/h) place between August and October. The northern Indian Ocean sees cyclones from April to December, with double maxima first Season Dependency one in the Pre- ( April-May) and second in Post-Monsoon While the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through ( October-December) periods. Climate

tropical cyclones: fact file

Largest and smallest Tropical cyclone over north Indian Ocean Typhoon Tip had gale force winds 34 knots (17 m/s), which having caused the most deaths and most damage extended out for 1100 km in radius in the Northwest Pacific on 12 October, 1979. Tropical Cyclone Tracy had gale force winds that Maxm. sustained Place of landfall Date of landfall only extended 50 km radius when it struck Darwin, Australia, on winds (kmph) 24 December,1974. Considering north Indian Ocean, Orissa super (Estimated on the basis of satellite imageries) cyclone of October, 1999 and the cyclone, "Ogni" were the largest Chittagong 13 Nov 1970 224 and smallest cyclones during 1891-2007. Chirala, Andhra Pradesh 19 Nov 1977 260 Rameshwaram 24 Nov 1978 204 Sriharikota 14 Nov 1984 213 Bangla Desh 30 Nov 1988 213 Kavali, Andhra Pradesh 9 Nov 1989 235 Machlipatnam, AP 9 May 1990 235 Chittagong 29 Apr 1991 235 Teknaf (Myanmar) 2 May 1994 204 Teknaf 19 May 1997 235 Paradip, Orissa 29 Oct 1999 260 89.80E, Bangladesh 15 Nov 2007 220 16.00N, Myanmar 2 May 2008 200 Largest Cyclone: The 1999 Paradip Super Cyclone. (Source: IMD) (Source: IMD)

Most Intense Hurricane With maximum sustained winds of 200 mph (325 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 879 hPa, Hurricane Patricia is the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Western Hemisphere. It exceeded the previous sustained wind record of 190 mph (305 km/h) set by Hurricane Allen in 1980 and eclipsed the pressure record of 882 hPa set by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, both in the Atlantic basin. In the Eastern Pacific basin, north of the equator and east of the International Dateline, the previous basin record-holder was Hurricane Linda in 1997 with winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) Smallest Cyclone Ogni: Oct 29-30, 2006. (Source: IMD) and a pressure of 902 hPa. Most Severe Cyclone over North Indian Ocean On a global scale, Patricia's one-minute maximum sustained winds ranked as the highest ever reliably observed or estimated globally in a Orissa super cyclone, 1999, which crossed Orissa coast near tropical cyclone, surpassing of 2013­—the intensity Paradip on 29th October, 1999 was the most intense cyclonic of Haiyan being estimated via satellite imagery resulted in uncertainly storm over north Indian Ocean in the recorded history of the of wind estimates. The most powerful wind gust produced by a tropical region. The estimated sustained maximum surface wind speed cyclone, as well as the highest non-tornadic winds ever recorded, is was about 140 knots at the time of landfall and lowest estimated still retained by Cyclone Olivia in 1996: 253 mph (407 km/h) was central pressure was 912 hPa. observed on Barrow Island, Western Australia.

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 5 Structure of a Cyclone

Eye The centre or eye of a tropical cyclone is at the area of lowest pres- sure and is characterised by little or no wind and often a cloudless sky. In severe cyclones the eye usually shows up as a circular hole in the central cloud mass. The eye is usually about 40 km in diameter, but can vary between less than 10 km and more than 100 km.

Eye Wall Surrounding the eye is a wall of dense convective cloud rising about 15 km into the atmosphere. This is the eye wall and is where the most violent winds and heaviest rainfall occur.

Spiral Bands Radar and satellite observations of tropical cyclones reveal a dis- tinctive pattern of convective cloud bands spiralling into the eye wall. These bands often extend up to 1000 km from the cyclone Space shuttle view of a mature tropical cyclone clearly displaying the centre, and contain heavy rain and wind squalls. main structural features. Base photo courtesy NASA and Bureau of

FEATURE Meteorology. Cirrus Canopy The extremely vigorous uplift of moist air within the convective huge canopy over the cyclone, making satellite location of the sys- clouds of the eye wall and inner spiral bands produces a massive tem centre difficult during the early stages, until the eye shows outflow of cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere. This forms a through the canopy.

Cyclone Formation

n the tropics, weak pressure waves move from east to west. These  A minimum distance of at least 500 km from the equator. For are called easterly waves. Under a favourable situation, a low to occur, there is a requirement for non- pressure area forms over an easterly trough. This gives rise to negligible amounts of the Coriolis force (attributed to earth’s Ilow level convergence. If the sea is warm ( rotation) to provide the near gradient wind balance to occur. greater than or equal to 26.5 degrees centigrade)., and there is Without the Coriolis force, the low pressure of the disturbance sufficient upper level divergence , that is air is blown off at higher cannot be maintained. This is the reason why the narrow levels from the area of low pressure, the pressure gradually falls. Low corridor of about 300 km on either side of the equator is free level convergence coupled with upper level divergence gives rise to from cyclones. Because of this there is no inter-hemispheric vertical motion taking moist air upwards. These condense at higher migration of tropical cyclones across the equator. levels (middle troposphere) and give out latent heat of condensation.  A pre-existing near-surface disturbance with sufficient vorticity Due to the release of this heat , the area warms up resulting in (rotation) and convergence. Tropical cyclones cannot be further fall in pressure. This process continues and a low pressure generated spontaneously. To develop, they require a weakly system gradually intensifies into a cyclonic storm. organized system with sizeable spin and low level inflow. Thus, for tropical cyclogenesis, there are several favourable  Low values (less than about 10 m/s or 20 kts) of vertical wind environmental conditions that must be in place. They are: - shear between the lower (1.5 km) and the upper troposphere (12  Warm ocean waters (of at least 26.5°C) throughout a sufficient km). Vertical wind shear is the magnitude of wind change with depth (unknown how deep, but at least on the order of 50 m). height. Large values of vertical wind shear disrupt the incipient Warm waters are necessary to fuel the heat engine of the tropical tropical cyclone and can prevent genesis, or, if a tropical cyclone cyclone. has already formed, large vertical shear can weaken or destroy  An atmosphere which cools fast enough with height such that it the tropical cyclone by interfering with the organization of deep is potentially unstable to moist convection. convection around the cyclone centre.  Relatively moist layers near the mid-troposphere (5 km). Dry The above conditions are necessary, but not sufficient as many mid-levels are not conducive to the continuing development of disturbances may not develop notwithstanding conditions in favour. widespread thunderstorm activity. However, these criteria fit well over the north Indian Ocean.

6 December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 G'nY CLIMATE Observational Network

for Cyclones FEATURE

The accurate prediction of a tropical cyclone depends on the correct moni- toring of its location and intensity. The observational network plays a key role in determining the characteristics of a cyclone.

he observational network for forecasting a cyclone is / radio wind (RS / RW), wind profiler, radar and aircraft aimed at continuous monitoring of the horizontal and reconnaissance. Observations for measurement of wind speed and vertical structure of the atmosphere. The latest advances direction alone are made two to four times a day at pilot balloon Tin technology such as satellites, radar and automated weather observatories (PBO), which use optical theodolites. In India, there stations (AWS) provide invaluable support to the monitoring of are 62 pilot balloon observatories spread all over the country. tropical cyclones by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Radiosondes serve as the main observing system for determina- tion of vertical structure of the atmosphere and are essential in The Observational System NWP analysis and model assessment. IMP presently uses GPS Land and Ocean Based Observations: Surface data is the sonde at 11 places and Mark IV radiosonde in other 28 places foundation on which the edifice of synoptic meteorology rests. of its upper air network. There are 11 S-band radar stations in Horizontal coverage is generally good over populated land and the country at Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Machhilipat- marginal to poor over oceanic or desert areas. Although oceanic nam, Chennai, Sriharikota, Karaikal, Kochi, Goa, and buoys and AWSs are being deployed, yet observational data from Bhuj. Out of these 11 stations, five use Doppler Weather Radars ocean regions continues to remain sparse. Presently, there are (DWRs). S-band radars are good for tracking tropical cyclones about 675 AWSs all over India. In addition to 1100 automated over the sea. Although the maximum range for a cyclone detected rain gauge stations (ARG’s). Winds and sea surface temperatures radar is 500 km, the effective range is limited to 400 km mainly (SSTs) measured from ships, buoys, and island stations are due to the earth’s curvature. DWRs provide vital information on important parameters in cyclone monitoring and forecasting. radial velocity and rainfall, in addition to reflectivity that is also Apart from the surface observations of voluntary observational available in conventional S-band radars (Fig 1). Reflectivity esti- fleet (VOF) ships, arrays of buoys and tide gauge network form an mates obtained from these radars are more accurate in comparison integral part of the ocean observing system. to those from conventional radars.

Upper Air Observations: Wind and temperature data from the Space Based Observations: Space based observations for TC upper atmosphere is collected using pilot balloons, radiosonde monitoring is obtained from national and international geostationary

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 7 and polar orbiting satellites. Presently, IMD receives and processes Dvorak’s work. The intensity of the tropical system is indicated meteorological data from three Indian satellites, namely Kalpana – by a T number based on a pattern recognition technique. Based 1, INSAT – 3D and INSAT – 3A. Cloud imageries are very useful on the pattern of clouds associated with a tropical cyclone, the for determining the position of a cyclone, its associated convection intensity of it is defined on a T-scale ranging from 1 to 8. Another and intensity. In addition, microwave imageries help in predicting feature of the technique is a current intensity (CI) number) which the structural characteristics and intensification of a tropical cyclone relates directly to the intensity (in terms of wind speed) of the in short range. The sea surface wind as estimated by scatterometer cyclone. The CI number may differ from the T number on some – based satellites (ASCAT, Windsat and OSCAT) are very useful occasions to account for certain factors that are not directly re- in locating the centre of a tropical cyclone. However, these satellites lated to cloud features. have their limitations, since they provide only two observations. These (Fig. 2) also suffer from rain contamination and are unable to Endnote measure wind speed beyond 50 knots (28 mps). The location estimation error has been about 55 km over sea, while errors in determining the tropical cyclone centre over the Standard Operation Procedure: The location and intensity northwest Pacific Ocean can be up to 50 km by satellite fixes, of a tropical cyclone (TC) is determined based on (a) Synoptic, 20 – 50 km by radar observations and by about 20 km by aircraft (b) Satellite and, (c) Radar observations. When a system is far reconnaissance. The induction of DWR has reduced the error in out at sea, satellite observation is given more weight. When it is determining the centre of cyclones.. The landfall point estimation within radar range, the radar is given greater weightage. Synoptic error has also been reduced to about 25 km mainly due to the observations get maximum weightage, when the system is close to installation of coastal AWSs. the coast. There can be small differences in observations made by different methods. Hence, a consensus is arrived at based on all By Suman Goel, Scientist-E, Satellite Met Division, India Meteorological the data collected by the cyclone forecaster. Department (IMD), New Delhi. FEATURE Intensity classification by satellite technique is based on V F

Deadliest Hurricanes in History

■ 1900: The Galveston Hurricane Hurricane Hugo was one of the worst storms ever to hit the coasts Early evening on September 8, 1900, a powerful Category 4 of the Carolinas, making landfall just north of Charleston, S.C., storm, with sustained winds of more than 130 mph (209 kmph), on September 22 as a Category 4 hurricane. Hugo was responsible roared ashore at Galveston, Texas. The tides that resulted caused for 21 deaths in mainland US, five more in Puerto Rico and the 8,000 deaths (estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000. The damage U. S. Virgin Islands, and 24 more elsewhere in the Caribbean. to property was estimated at $30 million. Damage estimates were $7 billion in mainland U S, $1 billion in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. ■ 1928: San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane ■ 1992: Hurricane Andrew This hurricane, the second deadliest in U.S. history, hit near Palm Beach, Florida., on September 16, 1928. The storm caused Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damages, 23 deaths in the US extensive destruction. The worst tragedy occurred at inland Lake and three more in the Bahamas. Most of the damage was caused Okeechobee in Florida, where the hurricane caused a lake surge by Andrew's monstrous winds, which were about 167 mph (269 of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) that inundated the surrounding area, kmph) when it made landfall in Florida on August 24, 1992, causing 1,836 deaths in the area. making it a Category 5 storm, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Andrew reportedly destroyed 25,524 homes and damaged ■ 1935: Florida Keys Labour Day Hurricane 101,241 others This hurricane, that preceded the naming of storms, was small but ■ 2004: Hurricane Charley vicious. The storm formed to the east of the Bahamas on August 29, 1935, and became a hurricane onSeptember 1 , intensifying Charley was headed towards southwest coastal Florida as a rapidly before it struck Florida Keys on September 2 as a whopping Category 2 storm when it rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm Category 5 storm. This was one of only three Category 5 storms to — winds jumped from 110 mph (175 kmph) to 145 mph (235 hit the US in the 20th century. kmph) — in the six hours before it slammed Florida. Charley killed 10 people in the U S and caused an estimated $14 billion ■ 1969: Hurricane Camille in damages. This storm struck along the Mississippi coast late on August 17, ■ 2005: Hurricane Katrina 1969 as a Category 5 storm. The combination of winds, storm surges and rainfall caused 256 deaths (143 on the Gulf Coast and On August 29, 2005, after passing over the Caribbean and 113 died in floods when the storm later passed over Virginia) and Florida, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast $1.421 billion in damages. as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph (201 kmph)., Katrina claimed more than 1,800 human lives and caused over ■ 1989: Hurricane Hugo $125 billion in damages.

8 December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 G'nY CLIMATE Deadliest Typhoons in History ■ 1951: Typhoon Amy kilometres per hour, Region Affected: . ■ 2004: Tropical Depression Winnie & Typhoon Yoyong Amy’s landfall coincided with the eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok on FEATURE Island, causing disruption to volcanic relief operations Not long after Tropical Depression Winnie devastated the and displacing those evacuated due to the volcanic eruption. , the country was struck by Typhoon Yoyong Death Toll: 991 dead, Damages: $30 million US dollars (1951 (Nanmadol). Death Toll: 1500 dead/missing, Damages: 678 exchange rate), Wind Speed: 220 kilometres per hour, Region million pesos, Wind Speed: 55 kilometres per hour, Region Affected: Visayas Affected: Southern Luzon. ■ 1952: Typhoon Trix ■ 2008: Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) Death Toll: 995 dead, Wind Speed: 220 kilometres per hour, The ferry MV Princess of the Stars capsized off the coast of San Region Affected: Bico Fernando, Romblon during Typhoon Frank, killing more than • 1984: Typhoon Nitang (Ike) 900 people. Death Toll: 938 dead, Wind Speed: 205 kilometres per hour, Region Affected: Luzon, Visayas. Death Toll: 1440 dead, Damages: $1 billion or 16.7 billion pesos ■ 2011: Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) (1984 exchange rate), Wind Speed: 230 kilometres per hour, Region Affected: Northern Mindanao. Death Toll: 1200 dead, Damage: 1.6 billion pesos, Wind Speed: 95 kilometres per hour, Region Affected: Mindanao. • 1987: Typhoon Sisang (Nina) ■ 2012: Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) Sisang was the worst typhoon that struck the Philippines in 17 years, since Yoling (Patsy) in 1970. Death Toll: 979 dead, Wind Typhoon Pablo was the strongest cyclone to ever hit Mindanao. Speed: 270 kilometres per hour, Region Affected: Luzon. 1991: Death Toll: 1100 dead, 800 missing, Damage: 42 billion pesos, Tropical Storm Uring (Thelma) Wind Speed: 280 kilometers per hour, Region Affected: Mindanao. ■ Though Uring’s wind speed was weak, the tremendous rainfall 2013: Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) it brought took a heavy toll of life and property. It struck the Supertyphoon Yolanda is the deadliest typhoon to ever strike the Philippines just 5 months after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Philippines Death Toll: 6340 dead, 1061 missing, Damage: 89 Death Toll: 5000 – 8000 dead/missing, Damages: About $27.67 billion pesos, Wind Speed: 315 kilometres per hour. Region most million or 1.23 billion pesos (1991 exchange rate), Wind Speed: 85 affected: Eastern Visayas.

Deadliest Cyclones in India

■ 1737: The Hooghly River Cyclone Bengal, Calcutta, killing approximately 60,000 people and This is the oldest and one of the worst cyclones recorded in flooding the entire city. Thousands more died due to disease India. This cyclone occurred on 11th October, 1737 and took and sicknesses that followed. The water level from the Hooghly approximately 300,000 lives in both West Bengal and present- River is known to have risen up to a towering 40 feet, with day Bangladesh. According to records, about 20,000 ships, the floods washing away everything in their path. The city, the barques, canoes, boats, sloops . were cast away. Eight out of surrounding areas and the harbour had to be rebuilt. nine English ships in the Ganges were reportedly lost. Not only ■ 1970: The Bhola Cyclone people, but cattle as well as many wild animals such as tigers, The Great Bhola cyclone that hit Bangladesh and the Bay rhinos and crocodiles in the Ganges plateau are known to have of Bengal in India on November 12, 1970 was the deadliest perished due to the cyclone. cyclone ever recorded. As per estimates, the tropical cyclone ■ 1839: Coringa Cyclone killed almost 500,000 people in the Ganges delta through direct impact, and diseases in the aftermath. The total damage Coringa is a small village in the Godavari basin in the state of was estimated to be $86.4 million (1970). Nearly 85 per cent Andhra Pradesh. A massive cyclone hit this village on November of homes were destroyed, with floods causing huge crop losses. 16, 1839, killing approximately 300,000 people. The cyclone is known to have hit this village with terrible winds and a giant ■ 1991: Cyclone 2B . Coringa was never rebuilt completely until this day. On August 29, 1991, a devastating cyclone hit Bangladesh, ■ 1864: Calcutta Cyclone killing around 145,000 people, causing more than $1.5 billion in damages. Although there had been ample warning of the On October 5, 1864, a massive cyclone hit the capital of West coming storm and shelter provisions made, this disaster was one

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 9 of the worst in the 20th century. Cyclone 2B, as the storm came unofficial sources estimated the toll to be above 50,000. to be known, had been tracked for a week as it made its way ■ 2007: Cyclone Gonu north through the Bay of Bengal, and slammed into Chittagong. As many as 10 million people, were left homeless with huge crop On 3-8 June 2007 a tropical cyclone developed into a category losses and a million head of cattle being lost.. Since 1991, the 4 storm, with winds at 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per warning and shelter systems in Bangladesh have improved; a hour). Cyclone Gonu, travelling from the Arabian Sea into the powerful cyclone that struck southeastern Bangladesh in 1997 Gulf of , hit the northern Omani coast without making took a far lesser toll, in spite of a storm surge as high as 15 feet (5 landfall. Strong winds and rainfall caused many flash floods metres) and wind speeds of 250 kmph (150 mph. and severely affected the Omani Capital and tsurrounding districts. Because of the excellent warning systems, people were ■ 1999: Cyclone 05B / Paradip Cyclone evacuated in time reducing loss of lives. On October 29, 1999, a super cyclone with wind speeds of ■ 2008: around 300 mph struck Odisha. It was first detected when it was over the Gulf of Siam on the morning of October 24, five On 2 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar, days before it made landfall. Winds of up to 260 kph raged crossing the south of the country over two days, and devastating for over 36 hours. The coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, the Ayeyarwady Delta region. According to official figures, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam were forced 84,500 people were killed and 53,800 went missing. A total to evacuate people. The super cyclone was accompanied by of 37 townships were significantly affected by the cyclone. The torrential rains and a 7-10metre tidal surge that swept more than UN estimates that as many as 2.4 million people were affected.

FEATURE 20 km inland. At least 13 million people, including 3.3 million The almost 12 foot wall of water and wind speed of over 200 children, 5 million women and nearly 3.5 million elderly people km/hr killed tens of thousands of people and left hundreds of were affected. While official sources claimed 9,885 deaths, thousands homeless and vulnerable to injury and disease.

Recent Cyclones in India

■ 2013: Andhra Pradesh to safer places.

On October 4, 2013, a tropical depression that had developed ■ 2014: in the Gulf of Thailand, about 400 km (250 mi) west of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Finally after moving into the Bay Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud was a strong tropical of Bengal, the system quickly reorganized as it moved along the cyclone that caused extensive damage and loss of life in eastern southern edge of a subtropical ridge of high pressure. The IMD India and Nepal during October 2014. Hudhud originated from reported that the system had intensified into a cyclonic storm a low pressure system that formed under the influence of an and named it Phailin. upper-air cyclonic circulation in the Andaman Sea on October 6. Hudhud intensified into a cyclonic storm on October 8 and After it was named, Phailin rapidly intensified further, and as a Severe Cyclonic Storm on October 9. Hudhud underwent became equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir- rapid deepening in the following days and was classified as a Simpson hurricane wind scale early on October 10. After bands Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the IMD. Shortly before landfall of had wrapped into the systems low near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on October 12, Hudhud level circulation center and formed an eye feature. Later that reached its peak strength with three-minute wind speeds of 175 day the IMD reported that the system had become a very severe km/h (109 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 960 mbar cyclonic storm. The system subsequently made landfall later that day 12 October 2013 near Gopalpur in Odisha, at around (28.35 inHg). The system then drifted northwards towards Uttar 22:30 IST (17:00 UTC) as a very severe cyclonic storm. Pradesh and Nepal, causing widespread rains in both areas and heavy snowfall in the latter. Cyclone Phailin was the biggest storm to hit India in 14 years. It affected 14 million people and left more than one million Hudhud caused extensive damage to the city of Visakhapatnam homeless, causing destruction on the scale of Hurricane Katrina, and the neighbouring districts of Vizianagaram andSrikakulam a damage of. $696 million. Yet few people were killed due to of Andhra Pradesh. Damages were estimated to be Rs. 21908 timely evacuation of coastal people by the Orissa and Andhra crore (US$3.4 billion) by the Andhra state government. At Pradesh States Disaster Management Authority. The cyclone least 124 deaths have been confirmed, a majority of them from prompted India's biggest evacuation in 23 years with more than Andhra Pradesh and Nepal, with the latter experiencing an 550,000 people moved up from the coastline in Odessa and avalanche due to the cyclone.

10 December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 G'nY CLIMATE Atmospheric Phenomena:

Altocumulus Cloud FEATURE

aving already discussed three High-level clouds, viz., Cirrus, The Clouds families are divided in 10 cloud genus: Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus ( refer earlier issues of GnY), we will now discuss the middle-level Altocumulus cloud, Name Abbr. Example Meaning Hwhich is one ten fundamental cloud types (or cloud genera). High level clouds at heights of 5 km to 13km Altocumulus (AC) Cirrus Ci Fibrous, threadlike, white The name Altocumulus derives from the Latin words altus = high feather clouds of ice crys- and cumulus = mass or heap. They usually form between 2 to 7 km tals, whose form resembles (6,600 ft to 23,000 ft) above the ground, are grayish-white with one hair curls. part of the cloud darker than the other. Altocumulus clouds usually Cirrostratus Cs Milky, translucent cloud form in groups and are about 1 km thick. They are extremely varied, veil of ice crystals, which and often occur in sheets or patches with wavy, rounded masses or sometimes causes halos rolls. A sheet of partially conjoint altocumulus is sometimes found around the moon and sun. preceding a weakening warm front. Cirrocu- Cc Fleecy cloud; Cloud banks mulus of small, white flakes.

Medium level clouds at heights of 2-7 km Altocu- Ac Grey cloud bundles, sheds mulus or rollers, compound like rough fleecy cloud, which are often arranged in banks. Altostratus As Dense, gray layered clouds, often even and opaque, which lets the sun shine through only a little. Low level clouds at heights of 0-2 km Altocumulus clouds chiefly consist of super-cooled water droplets of minus 10 degree celsius, but ice crystals are often present. Usu- Strato- Sc Cloud, rollers or banks ally they do not produce rain, but might indicate a weather change cumulus characterized by a dark within a day or so. Altocumulus is also commonly found between gray layer. the warm and cold fronts in a depression, although this is often hid- den by lower clouds. Towering altocumulus, known as altocumulus Stratus St Evenly grey, low layer castellanus, frequently signals the development of thunderstorms cloud, which causes fog or later in the day, as it shows instability and convection in the middle fine precipitation and is levels of the troposphere, the area where towering cumulus clouds sometimes frazzled. can turn into cumulonimbus. It is therefore one of three warning Clouds with large vertical extending at heights of 0-13 km clouds often recorded by the aviation industry, the other two being Cumulus Cu Heap cloud with flat towering cumulus and cumulonimbus. basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development is similar to a tower, cauliflower or cotton. Cumulo- Cb A low level thundercloud, nimbus which generally rises to the upper level.

Nimbostratus Ns Rain cloud. Grey, dark layer cloud, indistinct outlines. Source: ww

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 11 News Updates

WMO: 2015 is the hottest year on record yet sist through much of the first quarter of that year before decaying. This year will be the hottest on record and 2016 could be even hot- “Severe droughts and devastating flooding being experienced ter due to the El Niño weather pattern, the World Meteorological throughout the tropics and sub-tropical zones bear the hallmarks of Organization (WMO) has said, warning that inaction on climate this El Niño, which is the strongest in more than 15 years,” WMO change could see global average temperatures rise by 6 degrees Cel- Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said. WMO released its Update sius or more. on the eve of an international El Niño Conference in New York, of which WMO is a major co-sponsor, to increase scientific under- standing of this event as well as its impacts, and help boost resilience to anticipated global socio-economic shocks. FEATURE

Source: www.wmo.int Source: www.climate.gov

WMO director-general Michel Jarraud said 16-20 percent of the Rainfall in Chennai during November- 2015 rise may be due to El Niño, a natural weather pattern marked December 2015 by warming sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The cur- According to Tamil Nadu weather blogger, Chennai city (Nungam- rent El Niño is one of the strongest on record. But five-year averages bakkam) broke the record of the wettest ever December day - showed temperatures were rising regardless of El Niño or its cooling 261.6 mm, recorded on 10th December, 1901 - by recording 291.5 counterpart La Niña, with eight of the 10 warmest years occurring mm of rainfall on December 3, 2015/0830 Hours (IMD Data). since 2005. The years 2011-2015 have been the hottest five-year pe- riod on record, with temperatures about 0.57C (1.01F) above the Further: 1961-1990 reference period.  On November9–10 , 2015, Chennai received 483 mm (19.0 in) Global ocean temperatures were unprecedented during the pe- of rainfall. riod, and several land areas, including continental United States,  On November 15-16, 2015Chennai received 24.65 cm (9.70 in) Australia, Europe, South America and Russia, broke temperature of rainfall, the highest amount recorded since November 2005, records by large margins. Next year may be even warmer; since flooding most areas of the city greenhouse gases have risen to a new record every year for the past 30  Chennai received 104.9 cm (41.3 in) of rainfall in November, the years, and El Niño is likely to continue into 2016. "The year whose highest since 108.8 cm (42.8 in) in November 1918. annual mean temperature is likely to be most strongly influenced by the current El Niño is 2016 rather than 2015," the WMO said.

El-Nino Update A mature and strong El Niño event, which is contributing to ex- treme weather patterns, is expected to strengthen further by the end of the year, according to the WMO. Peak three-month average sur- face water temperatures in the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean will exceed 2 degrees Celsius above normal, placing this El Niño event among the three strongest since 1950. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is a naturally occurring phe- nomenon which is the result of the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific. Typically, El Niño events peak late in the calendar year, with maximum strength Satellite image recorded by INSAT 3D at 1600 hours on Tuesday, 1st between October and January the following year. They often per- December 2015.

12 December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 G'nY CLIMATE As a result, the city of Chennai – a coastal metropolis of 8.7m This brought heavy rainfall to coastal Tamil Nadu. On 28–29 people and the capital of Tamil Nadu – faced unprecedented November 2015, another system developed and arrived over Tamil floods. The city experienced incessant rains, with its wettest No- Nadu on 30 November 2015, bringing additional rain and flooding. vember in over a century ended with a toll of around 270 human Overview: The Chennai situation was also discussed at Paris Cli- lives..Over two lakh people were displaced, with Rs. 8481 crores of mate summit ‘COP 21’ with concerns. Scientists are considering FEATURE damage to property. whether the frequency of extreme weather events has increased in countries like India, as per Government-weather data over the last 100 years. Meteorologists/Scientists are now debating whether this is the result of climate change ? Or, whether a Warming El Nino is bringing more winter rainfall after a dry summer? However, given the last few extreme events in different parts of the country, it is high time that we gear ourselves up to to keep our machinery well-oiled for effective handling of every disaster and to strictly follow warnings issued by IMD and other meteorogical organisations. Forecasts of heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events ought to be followed up with appropriate action to save pre- cious human and animal lives. A warning - Chennai was just not prepared: As per reports, Chennai was just not prepared to handle the rain, mainly due to years of unplanned development. Storm water drainage networks have been ignored and covered over the years. The new Airport Ter- Chennai Flood (Photo acourtesy: http://indianexpress.com/) minal is on the flood plains of the river Adyar, the MTRS travels The reason: During the annual post-monsoon cyclone season a low along the Buckingham Canal, and it is also reported that special pressure area consolidated into a depression and slowly intensified economic zones (SEZs), educational Institutions and gated colonies into a deep depression on 8 November 2015, before crossing the have come up in the rainfall catchment areas, disrupting the natu- Tamil Nadu coadt near Puducherry the following day. The system ral drainage systems of the city. The policy makers need to rethink weakened into a well-marked low pressure area over north due to their vision and mission as regards these factors to end up with a land interaction and high vertical wind shear on 10 November 2015. Smart City in Chennai.

Conference alert

ACN- International Conference on Science, XVII Annual International Seminar Technology, Engineering and Management Date: 03/01/2016 – 04/01/2016 (ICSTEM) Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre (Gate Date: 02-01-2016 No. 3), Lodhi Road, New Delhi Venue: Hotel Raj Palace, 12/1, Thanikachalam Road, Organised By: Delhi School of Professional Studies Parthasarathy Puram, T. Nagar, Chennai and Research Organised By: Academic Conference Network Website: http://www.internationalseminar.org Website: http://academicsconference.com

2016 Sustainability Conference: Urban 2016 5th International Conference on Climate Sustainability: Inspiration and Solution - A Change and Humanity (ICCCH 2016) Common Ground Conference Date: 23/01/2016 – 24/01/2016 Date: 21/01/2016 – 23/01/2016 Venue: Pattaya Discovery Beach Hotel, 489 Soi 6/1, Venue: Smith Memorial Student Union, Portland State North Pattaya, Pattaya Beach Road, University, Portland, USA Pattaya City, Chonburi 20150, Thailand Organised By: Common Ground Publishing Organised By: CBEES Website: http://onsustainability.com/2016-conference/ Website: http://www.iccch.org/

G'nY CLIMATE December 1-15, 2015 ● Volume 1 ● Issue 13 13