DOCSLIB.ORG

IJRAR Research Journal

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
IJRAR Research Journal © 2020 IJRAR June 2020, Volume 7, Issue 2 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138) KOLKATA GREENS, POST ‘AMPHAN’ SUPATRA SEN Associate Professor Department of Botany Asutosh College, Kolkata, INDIA Abstract : Amphan, a tropical super cyclone ravaged coastal Bengal, Orissa and parts of Bangladesh on 20th May 2020. Kolkata along with coastal parts of West Bengal were the worst affected with lakhs rendered homeless and shelterless, huge agricultural and crop loss and thousands of trees damaged, destroyed and uprooted. With over 5000 trees lost or damaged out of approximately five lakhs in Kolkata alone, the task of green restoration seems is challenging, but essential. Post Amphan minus the large tree cover, Kolkata and surroundings will inevitably face drastic rise in pollution levels. As Kolkata rebuilds its green cover, it must ensure flawless urban planning, efficient and scientific tree management and accurate species selection. IndexTerms - Amphan, urban greening, biodiversity restoration, urban biodiversity I. INTRODUCTION Amphan, a tropical super cyclone ravaged coastal Bengal, Orissa and parts of Bangladesh on 20th May 2020. North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts of West Bengal were the worst affected with lakhs rendered homeless and shelterless, huge agricultural and crop loss, thousands of trees damaged, destroyed and uprooted and other accompanying damages and losses much beyond immediate comprehension and repair. Ironically the super cyclone hit the states and its inhabitants (flora and fauna included) on 20th May, 2020 just a couple of days before the International Day of Biological Diversity (celebrated on 22nd May, every year). Kolkata with less than 2% green cover has been one of the worst affected in terms of tree loss along with the mangrove dominated Biosphere Reserve Sunderban. Besides Kolkata, the Sundarban mangroves, vital to the unique ecology of the region and which work as a buffer to cyclones and storms covers, too, were extensively and critically damaged. II. AMPHAN AND LOSS OF GREEN COVER With over 5000 trees lost or damaged out of approximately five lakhs in Kolkata alone, the task to urban-green restoration is greatly challenging. Most of the trees that fell were very old and fully grown and had a large canopy. In Rabindra Sarobar, known for its long stretch of uninterrupted green cover, over 200 trees have been lost due to the devastating cyclone. It will take about 10 to 15 years to get back some of the green cover that was lost in the cyclone. The Maidan known as the ‘lungs of the city’ has a rich history that extends over two centuries. Through a cyclone as devastating as Amphan, Maidan will surely resurrect itself. There is precedence for this. In 1909, the famous historian and journalist, HEA Cotton wrote: “Many of the fine trees with which it was studded were blown down in the cyclone of 1864. But they have not been allowed to remain without successors, and the handsome avenues across the Maidan still constitute the chief glory of Calcutta.” The Great Banyan Tree which the Botanical Survey of India uses as its logo, at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden was spread over 4.67 acres. Even during cyclones Fani and Bulbul, no major harm was done to it. But this time, it has been severely damaged. Serious efforts are on to heal the tree. There are other rare trees which have been uprooted in the garden. The tree had lost its main trunk to two cyclones, in 1864 and 1867 (india.com 23.05.2020). Apart from the most attractive and most visited tree, the 273-acre botanic garden set up in 1787 with over 13,000 plants and 1100 species has lost other significant inhabitants. Of its thousands of trees, more than 1,000 have been damaged and hundreds have been uprooted. The only fully grown Kalpavriksha (Adansonia digitata) or Baobab tree (more than 100 years old) and the Mad Tree (Pterygota alata var. irregularis) got uprooted. Besides these, the para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), the Malabar chestnut (Pachira aquatica), the Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), and several century-old mahogany trees (Swietenia mahagoni) in the garden’s famous Mahogany Avenue along with Olea cuspidata known as wild olive, brown olive or Indian olive were also extensively damaged (The Hindu, 24.05.2020). IJRAR19W1172 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 368 © 2020 IJRAR June 2020, Volume 7, Issue 2 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138) The Great Banyan Tree Rabindra Sarobar The Kalpavriksha was the third most popular and visited tree in the garden after The Great Banyan Tree and The Double Coconut Tree. It is so named because of its gigantic shape. Hindus worship the tree as the “tree of heaven” or the “wish-fulfilling tree.” Mad Tree is a species in which no single leaf looks the same. This cyclone also uprooted besides many other rare trees. The Mahagony Avenue, where a road in the garden is lined with huge mahogany trees, the Bambusetum, an area marked with bamboo trees, the Pinatum, a section for various types of pine trees and the Garden Nursery have all been damaged. Most of these trees were introduced to the garden by British botanists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In fact, commercial cultivation of mahogany and rubber began in India after the species were first introduced in this garden. Besides these invaluable losses, the city lost a huge part of its biodiversity, not only as flora but also as fauna. Mad Tree (Pterygota alata), IBG Bambusetum, IBG (All four photographs are taken by the author) III. POST AMPHAN SCENARIO Post Amphan minus the large tree cover, Kolkata will inevitably face drastic rise in pollution levels. According to environmentalists more than 10,000 trees have been lost which played significant roles in improving the urban air quality and carbon sequestration. Large trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates. They absorb pollutant gases (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and sulphur oxides) and filter fine particulates such as dust, dirt or smoke out of the air by trapping them on leaves and bark. Post the Covid-19 lockdown, when the traffic pressure increases there will be drastic increase in PM 2.5 (Hindustan Times, 24.05.2020). Urban trees can help to mitigate some of the negative impacts and social consequences of urbanization, and thus make cities more resilient to these changes. Plants are positive design elements in any environment and they can enhance the environment, if used with proper understanding (Sen, 2020a). FAO in 2016 suggested that urban trees and forests could contribute to making cities socio-economically and environmentally more sustainable by carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Urban forests have taken a leading role for their many functions and IJRAR19W1172 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 369 © 2020 IJRAR June 2020, Volume 7, Issue 2 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138) benefits within urban landscapes. Like all forests, urban forests can play a role in storing carbon (Sen 2020 a,b), a function that will be largely jeopardized post Amphan. Trees also help to reduce carbon emissions by helping to conserve energy. For example, the correct placement of trees around buildings can reduce the need for air conditioning by 30 percent, and reduce winter heating bills by 20-50 percent (Sen 2020a). Trees play an important role in increasing urban biodiversity, providing flora and fauna with a favourable habitat, food and protection. Poor tree management is perhaps responsible for the crisis. There is no proper pruning mechanism. If the trees had been pruned before the season of cyclones and rains, the damage could have been minimised. Before any major festival every year, the branches of trees are cut unscientifically, mostly along the side facing the road which disturbs the balance of the tree. IV. STRATEGIES FOR GREEN RESTORATION The most important criteria of choosing the right tree species is safety. A roadside tree should be sturdy enough to withstand the storms in the area. Post storm it should remain upright and the branches also need to be intact. The second safety requirement is a straight trunk and adequate ground clearance. Shallow root system can be problematic for trees near pavement. For obvious reason, thorny plants are also unsuitable (CPWD, 2013). Among individuals of a species, trees that are taller, have larger crowns, less dense wood, grow in more exposed sites, or are in poor health (e.g., infected by pathogens, drought stressed, or with high liana load) are more likely to be severely damaged by cyclones (Lin et al. 2020). The following guidelines may be followed: a. The policy of “right place, right tree” provides technical support towards intelligent greening of cities. b. The need for urban forestry is to be planned & integrated and systematic approach to urban tree management should be stressed c. Apart from residents, students from educational institutions in the neighbourhood may be truly encouraged to play a active role in the maintenance of the green space (Sen, 2014; 2016). d. Planning is important because trees are very often considered as an afterthought once development has taken place rather than being incorporated as original design phase. e. An integrated approach implies the participation of many different organizations, local council, municipal and national planning bodies, department etc. f. Systematic management entails regulated tree management, operations such as planting, pruning and felling must be conducted in an organized manner at the appropriate time. g. Performance-based incentive programs encourage competition and result in better output (Sen, 2015a, b).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Escap/77/Inf/1
    ESCAP/77/INF/1 Distr.: General 12 March 2021 English only Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Seventy-seventh session Bangkok and online, 26-29 April 2021 Items 4 (f) and (i) of the provisional agenda* Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific and issues pertinent to the subsidiary structure of the Commission: Committee on Environment and Development Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Annual reports of international and intergovernmental organizations provided to the Commission** Summary The present document contains overviews of the annual reports of the following international and intergovernmental organizations: the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia; the Mekong River Commission; the Typhoon Committee; and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones. These organizations were established under the auspices of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to work on areas under their respective competence to support economic and social development in the region. The Commission may wish to comment on the work of these organizations and take note of the present document. I. Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia 1. The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia has been established under the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) since 1966. In 1991, the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia has become an independent intergovernmental organization. With a vision to be “a premier intergovernmental Earth Science Organization in East and Southeast Asia”, the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia has worked towards its mission to contribute significantly to the economic development and sustainable management of the environment and of improving the quality of life of its member countries by the application of Earth Science knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Chasing the Cyclone
    Chasing the Cyclone MRUTYUNJAY MOHAPATRA DIRECTOR GENERAL OF METEOROLOGY INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT NEW DELHI-110003 [email protected] 2 A Few Facts about Tropical Cyclones(TCs) During 1970-2019, 33% of hydromet. disasters are caused by TCs. One out of three events that killed most people globally is TC. Seven out of ten disasters that caused biggest economic losses in the world from 1970-2019 are TCs. It is the key interest of 85 WMO Members prone to TCs Casualties of 300,000 in Bangladesh in 1970 is still ranked as the biggest casualties for the last five decades due to TC; Cyclone Monitoring, forecasting and warning services deals with application of all available modern technologies into operational services. Cyclone Hazard Analysis Cyclone Hazard Prone Districts Based on Frequency Intensity Wind strength PMP PMSS Mohapatra (2015), JESS Cyclone A low pressure system, where the wind rotates in anticlockwise (clockwise) direction in northern (southern) hemisphere with a minimum sustained wind speed of 34 knots (62 kmph) World Meteorological Organization’s official definition : A tropical cyclone (hurricane, typhoon) is a synoptic scale (100 km) , . non-frontal (no sharp gradient of temperature) disturbance, . over tropical or subtropical waters , . with organized convection, and definite cyclonic surface wind circulation. WESTERN PACIFIC TYPHOONS AUSTRALIA WILLY-WILLIES MEXICO CORDONAZO PHILIPPINES BAGIOUS Named after a city ‘BAGUIO’which experienced a rain fall of 116.8 cm in 24 hrs in July, 1911 INDIAN SEAS CYCLONES Derived from Greek word ‘CYCLOS’ – Coil of a Snake ATLANTIC & HURRICANES Derived from ‘HURACON’ - God of Evil (central EASTERN PACIFIC American ancient aborigines call God of Evil as HURACON Eye Tropical cyclone Eye-wall Horizontal : 100-1000km Vertical :10-15 km Wind speed : UP to 300 km / hr Average storm speed : About 300 km / day EYE: Central part, is known as eye.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyclone Nivar - Important Facts
    Cyclone Nivar - Important Facts Cyclone Nivar is a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ that is expected to hit the southeastern coast of India on midnight of 25th November 2020. Cyclones and other natural disasters that affect India and the world are important topics for the UPSC exam. It is important for both the geography and the disaster management topics in the UPSC syllabus. Cyclone Nivar The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the severe cyclone Nivar will intensify into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ and make landfall between Mamallapuram (in Tamil Nadu, around 56 km from Chennai) and Karaikal in Puducherry, on 25th November at midnight or early hours of the 26th of November. • The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts are experiencing heavy rains and strong winds due to the impending cyclone. Many parts of the metropolitan city of Chennai have been flooded due to the heavy rainfall. • The winds that the cyclone brings could be between 120 and 130 km per hour, with gusts of up to 145 km per hour. • Officials had stated they would release water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir near Chennai due to the heavy rain received in the wake of Nivar. • People living in low-lying areas have been evacuated. • The Indian Army has sent teams and rescue boats to the affected areas for assistance in the aftermath of the landfall. • Thousands of people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. • Trains and flights have been cancelled owing to the cyclone. • Experts say that after landfall, the cyclone may take up to six hours to weaken.
    [Show full text]
  • Very Severe Cyclone Yaas to Hit North Odisha Coast
    Brewing worry: The Indian Coast Guard guiding fishermen in view of cyclone Yaas. * PTI Very severe cyclone Yaas to hit north Odisha coast PM reviews preparations; landfall likely on May 26 evening shiv sahay singh coasts from the evening of in offshore activities. He Kolkata May 24. “It would gradually spoke about the need to en- The depression over east- increase further becoming sure that time duration of central Bay of Bengal is very 90-100 gusting to 110 kmph outages of power supply and likely to move in a north- from 26th morning and in- communication network are northwest direction and in- crease thereafter becoming minimum and are restored tensify into a cyclonic storm. 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 swiftly,” the Prime Minister’s The system Yaas is expected kmph at the time of landfall Office said in a statement af- to cross the coast in north till 26th afternoon,“ a special ter a review meeting to over- Odisha-West Bengal bet- bulletin issued by the IMD see the preparedness with ween Paradip and the Sagar late on Sunday evening said. senior officials. islands by the evening of The weather office has is- May 26 as a very severe cy- PM holds review meet sued an orange warning of clonic storm. Prime Minister Narendra extremely heavy rainfall at Officials at the Regional Modi on Sunday directed se- isolated places over Jhar- Meteorological Centre in nior officers to work in close gram, Medinipur, North & Kolkata on Sunday issued coordination with the States south 24 Parganas, Howrah, warnings that squally winds to ensure safe evacuation of Hooghly, Kolkata in West of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 people from high-risk areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Chlorophyll-A, SST and Particulate Organic Carbon in Response to the Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal
    J. Earth Syst. Sci. (2021) 130:157 Ó Indian Academy of Sciences https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01668-1 (0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().,-volV) Chlorophyll-a, SST and particulate organic carbon in response to the cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal 1, 2 1 MD RONY GOLDER * ,MD SHAHIN HOSSAIN SHUVA ,MUHAMMAD ABDUR ROUF , 2 3 MOHAMMAD MUSLEM UDDIN ,SAYEDA KAMRUNNAHAR BRISTY and 1 JOYANTA BIR 1Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh. 2Department of Oceanography, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh. 3Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh. *Corresponding author. e-mail: [email protected] MS received 11 November 2020; revised 20 April 2021; accepted 24 April 2021 This study aims to explore the variation of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), particulate organic carbon (POC) and sea surface temperature (SST) before (pre-cyclone) and after (post-cyclone) the cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite level-3 data were used to assess the variability of the mentioned parameters. Chl-a concentration was observed to be significantly (t = À3.16, df & 18.03, p = 0.005) high (peak 2.30 mg/m3) during the post-cyclone period compared to the pre-cyclone (0.19 mg/m3). Similarly, POC concentration was significantly (t = 3.41, df & 18.06, p = 0.003) high (peak 464 mg/m3) during the post-cyclone compared to the pre-cyclone (59.40 mg/m3). Comparatively, high SST was observed during the pre-cyclone period and decreases drastically with a significant difference (t = 14, df = 33, p = 1.951e-15) after the post-cyclone period.
    [Show full text]
  • “Amphan” Into a Super Cyclone?
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 3 July 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202007.0033.v1 Did COVID-19 lockdown brew “Amphan” into a super cyclone? V. Vinoj* and D. Swain School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar *Email: [email protected] The world witnessed one of the largest lockdowns in the history of mankind ever, spread over months in an attempt to contain the contact spreading of the novel coronavirus induced COVID-19. As billions around the world stood witness to the staggered lockdown measures, a storm brewed up in the urns of the rather hot Bay of Bengal (BoB) in the Indian Ocean realm. When Thailand proposed the name “Amphan” (pronounced as “Um-pun” meaning ‘the sky’), way back in 2004, little did they realize that it was the christening of the 1st super cyclone (Category-5 hurricane) of the century in this region and the strongest on the globe this year. At the peak, Amphan clocked wind speeds of 168 mph (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) with the pressure drop to 925 h.Pa. What started as a depression in the southeast BoB at 00 UTC on 16th May 2020 developed into a Super Cyclone in less than 48 hours and finally made landfall in the evening hours of 20th May 2020 through the Sundarbans between West Bengal and Bangladesh. Did the impact of the COVID-19 induced lockdown drive an otherwise typical pre-monsoon tropical depression into a super cyclone? Global Warming and Tropical Cyclones Tropical cyclones are primarily fueled by the heat released by the oceans.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyclone AMPHAN Joint Needs Assessment (JNA)
    Cyclone AMPHAN Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) Bangladesh Date: 31 May 2020 BANGLADESH Cyclone AMPHAN: Joint Needs Assessment Monsoon Flood | July Coordinated efforts of Needs Assessment Working Group About the Working Group : The Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) is the platform for government and non government humanitarian agencies under Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT). The secretariat of the Working Group is hosted by CARE Bangladesh under the “Supporting Bangladesh Rapid Needs Assessment (SUBARNA) Project.” Implemented By Fund Managed By Funded By Disclaimer: This material has been funded by UK aid from the UK government, however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. BANGLADESH Cyclone AMPHAN: Joint Needs Assessment Monsoon Flood | July Topic • Executive Summary • Key Findings • Sectoral Key impacts and Recommendations • Geographical Synopsis of Cyclone AMPHAN • Cyclone AMPHAN : GoB Preparedness - Early Warning and Impact • Preparatory response by GoB • Cyclone AMPHAN : Geographical Scope of the Assessment • Cyclone AMPHAN : Overall Impact • Overall impact in the assessment areas : Demographic and geographic • Internal Disablement • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact- : Child Protection • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Early Recovery • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Education • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Food Security • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Gender Based Violence (GBV) • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Cyclone AMPHAN : Health • Cyclone AMPHAN Impact: Nutrition • Cyclone AMPHAN
    [Show full text]
  • The Changing Science of Cyclones; Linked to Changes in Temperature and Land-Sea Interaction and Their Impacts
    The changing science of cyclones; linked to changes in temperature and land-sea interaction and their impacts Akshit Sangomla, Senior Reporter Down To Earth magazine Cyclone Amphan • Was the strongest cyclone in Bay of Bengal after records began 129 years ago • Maximum wind speeds measured at 270 km/hr by US Joint Typhoon Centre over Bay of Bengal • Rapid intensification. 140km/hr to 260 km/hr in 18 hours • Made landfall with speeds of 155-165 km/hr. Hit Kolkata with wind speed of 130 km/hr • Large scale inundation of South Bengal • Warm sea surface at 32-34°C and reduced aerosols due to CoVID-19 lockdowns in South Asia intensified it to super cyclone strength; evidence of increase in mean sea level also increased intensity of storm surge Cyclones: changing ‘nature’ • Fani (May 2019): longest lived cyclone ever in Bay of Bengal; wind speeds reached 215 km/hr, even 90 km inland. • Warm sea surface made it strong in spite of a high aerosol concentration. Rapid intensification in phases • Titli (Oct 2018) Vayu (June 2019) and Ockhi (Nov 2017) all went through rapid intensification • Titli and Ockhi also made unexpected turns in tracks; unpredictable and so more challenging to forecast Why? Connection with changing temperatures: land/sea interface • Rapid intensification • More storms becoming severe cyclones. • 12/16 storms have become severe since 2018 in NIO region • Slow movement over sea and land • Carry more rainfall • Travel much further inland than before • High storm surge and inundation • Slowing down of winds around the cyclone
    [Show full text]
  • Cyclone Amphan
    P a g e | 1 Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Bangladesh: Cyclone Amphan DREF Operation n°: MDRBD024 Glide n°: TC-2020-000137-BGD Date of issue: 18 June 2020 Expected timeframe: 12 months Expected end date: 24 May 2021 Category allocated to the of the disaster or crisis: Orange EPoA Funding Requirements: CHF 5 million DREF allocated: CHF 293,810 Total number of 2.6 million Number of people to 50,000 People people are affected: be assisted: Districts affected: 19 districts Districts targeted: 14 districts - Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Noakhali and Chattogram. Host National Society(ies) presence (n° of volunteers, staff, branches): Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) has over 800,000 volunteers and staffs, and 68 units all over the country. The National Society is well known and respected in the country and works closely with the Government. The role of the BDRCS is well articulated in the Government’s Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) which is the main guiding and regulating tool for the disaster response and management in Bangladesh. Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners actively involved in the operation: American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Italian Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society, Qatar Red Crescent, Swedish Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross, Turkish Red Crescent, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Other partner organizations actively involved in the operation: Government of Bangladesh (GoB), UN Resident Coordinator (RC) office, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs. A. Situation analysis Description of the disaster Cyclone Amphan formed on 16 May 2020 over the Indian Ocean and started moving north over the Bay of Bengal, towards north-east India coastal areas and south of Bangladesh.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Worldmeteorologicalor
    ` W O R L D M E T E O R O L O G I C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N T E C H N I C A L D O C U M E N T WMO/TD No. 84 TROPICAL CYCLONE PROGRAMME Report No. TCP-21 TROPICAL CYCLONE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE BAY OF BENGAL AND THE ARABIAN SEA Edition 2020 SECRETARIAT OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GENEVA SWITZERLAND Edition 2020 1 ` © World Meteorological Organization, 2020 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chair, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03 P.O. Box 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 40 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] NOTE The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised.
    [Show full text]
  • Preparedness and Impact of Cyclone YAAS
    AIR Spotlight - Preparedness and Impact of Cyclone YAAS AIR Spotlight is an insightful programme featured daily on the All India Radio Newsonair. In this program, many eminent panelists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in IAS exam preparation. In this article, the topic of discussion is Preparedness and Impact of Cyclone Yaas. Participants: • Professor Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, Senior Scientist, Head of the National Cyclone Warning Centre, New Delhi. • Ruchika Chitravanshi, Journalist. Context: The panelists discussed the impact of Cyclone Yaas in the eastern states of India and the preparedness against it. Comparison between cyclones Tauktae and Yaas: • Tauktae originated in the Arabian Sea whereas Yaas originated in the Bay of Bengal. • Tauktae had more speed (150-190 km/hr) than Yaas (140-165km/hr). • Tauktae took more time in its landfall than Yaas, hence was more destructive. • Yaas caused more rainfall than Tauktae. • Tauktae affected more areas than Yaas. All western coastal states were affected by it along with Delhi and Uttarakhand. Rainfall in Delhi due to cyclones is a rare phenomenon. Yaas affected Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand. The following table will give further details about cyclones Tauktae and Yaas: Cyclone Tauktae Cyclone Yaas Why does the Bay of Bengal have more cyclones than the Arabian sea? • High sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal than the Arabian Sea. • The Bay of Bengal has another demon on its head, the high rainfall and constant inflow of freshwater from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. The surface water gets refreshed continuously by these large rivers, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, and depressions keep forming.
    [Show full text]
  • The Super Cyclonic Storm 'Amphan' Brings West Bengal to a Complete
    FOCUS Focus 58 – Crawling Back to Normalcy: The Super Cyclonic Storm ‘Amphan’ Brings West Bengal to a Complete Halt By Mrittika Nandy 10 June, 2020 - ISSN NUMBER: 2406-5633 Mrittika Nandy is an Assistant Professor of Serampore Girls’ College, University of Calcutta. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral research on the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility in India at Centre For Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She specialises in areas like Indian Politics and Political Economy and takes immense interest in analysing contemporary trends. She also worked at Ananta Centre (Indian desk of Aspen Institute, USA) and Food First Information Action Network(FIAN), India. Abstract The onset of the super cyclonic storm Amphan in West Bengal, India, was a package of petrifying winds, consistent rainfall, collapsing trees, overflowing sewages, shattered glass windows, blown off roofs and many other things to recall and revisit. The Super Cyclonic Storm ‘Amphan’ was a powerful and deadly tropical cyclone which caused widespread damage in West Bengal and Bangladesh on 20th May 2020. Regions such as Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, East Midnapur, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas in West Bengal were all massively affected by the cyclone. It also caused significant destruction in Bangladesh and parts of Odisha. This article is an ‘ethnographic’ account of the experience of the Amphan winds and the collateral damage affecting the social and ecological structure at large. The article intends to enlighten the extent of damage and the recovery process after the catastrophe. Additionally, it is held that the state along with its citizens must contribute with rational/efficient ideas towards the protection and preservation of the environment - especially when global warming lies at such a tipping point.
    [Show full text]