Cyclonic Storm 'Michaung' Reaches The Bay Of Bengal

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 05-12-2023

Cyclonic Storm 'Michaung' Reaches The Bay Of Bengal

Environment 4 min read

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Cyclone "Michaung" passed through southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu coast and reached west-central Bay of Bengal on 4 December. Thereafter, it will move almost parallel to the north and close to the South Andhra Pradesh coast and hit the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a severe cyclonic storm by the afternoon of 5 December.

Origin/Centre:

The pressure area over the south-west Bay of Bengal has transformed into cyclonic storm Michaung.
The storm lay centered about 260 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 250 km southeast of Chennai, 380 km south-southeast of Nellore, 490 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 500 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

Nomenclature:

Its name "Michaung" is given by Myanmar.
It means strength or flexibility.

Intensity/Speed:

Its maximum speed will range from 90-100 kmph to 110 kmph.

Cyclone:

A cyclone is a rapid circulation of air around a low pressure area. Wind circulation occurs in an anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
Cyclones occur with destructive storm surge and inclement weather.
The word cyclone is derived from the Greek word cyclos which means coils of a snake. The term was coined by Henry Paddington because tropical storms originating in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear like coiled serpents of the sea.

Types of cyclone:

There are two types of cyclones
Tropical Cyclones: Tropical cyclones develop in the area between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
These types of storms are called hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific and typhoons in Southeast Asia and China. It is called a tropical cyclone in the south-west Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and willy-willies in north-western Australia.
The World Meteorological Organization uses the term 'tropical cyclone' to cover weather systems in which winds exceed 'gal force' (minimum 63 km/h).
Extratropical cyclones: These are also called temperate cyclones or mid-latitude cyclones or tropical cyclones or wave cyclones.
Extratropical cyclones originate in temperate regions and high latitude regions, although they are known to originate in the polar regions.

Occurrence of cyclone in India:

India has a biennial cyclone season which is between March to May and October to December but on rare occasions cyclones also occur in the months of June and September.
Generally, tropical cyclones develop in the North Indian Ocean region (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) during pre-monsoon (April to June) and post-monsoon (October to December) periods.
The months of May–June and October–November are known to produce severe cyclones that affect the Indian coasts.

FAQ

Ans. Its name "Michaung" is given by Myanmar.

Ans. The storm lay centered about 260 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 250 km southeast of Chennai, 380 km south-southeast of Nellore, 490 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 500 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

Ans. During a cyclone, air circulation occurs in a counter-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ans. Tropical cyclones are called hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific and typhoons in Southeast Asia and China.