Question.
Give reasons as to why the delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
( Chapter - 4 Climate, Cass 9 NCERT Contemporary India -I )
Answer.
Tropical cyclones are violent storms that are considered to be atmospheric disasters because they cause enormous damage to human life and property through heavy rainfall and high-speed winds. Tropical cyclones always originate in ocean water and dissipate when they reach land but cause widespread destruction in the coastal region.
Most of the tropical cyclones that hit India originate in the Bay of Bengal. The presence of an Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Bay of Bengal helps in the formation of a depression which helps in the formation of a tropical cyclone. After the formation of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, the subtropical easterly jet stream helps them to move towards India. The Coriolis force helped them to turn in the right direction towards the delta region of the east coast of India as which is located in the northern hemisphere.
Tropical cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon season [June to September], the winter monsoon season [October to December], and the pre-monsoon season [May to June].
During the cold monsoon season, low atmospheric pressure over northwestern India is transferred to the Bay of Bengal in early November, therefore helping to generate tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. The subtropical easterly jet stream helps to bring towards the Indian coast usually Tamil Nadu and Andhra coast which causes widespread damage. For example, in December 2022, Cyclone Mandous hit the Tamil Nadu coast, having originated in the Bay of Bengal.
During the pre-monsoon season [May to June], the presence of an Intertropical Convergence Zone [ITCZ] in the Bay of Bengal leads to a rise in water temperature which helps in the formation of depression. As we know that trade winds from both hemispheres meet in the ITCZ region, so these trade winds start converting into violent storms and the Coriolis force diverts it to the right and brings it to the coast of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, and widespread cause damage. For example, in May 2019 the extremely severe cyclone "Fani" made landfall on the Odisha coast. In May 2022, Severe Cyclone 2022 caused extensive damage to the Andhra coast.
Hence the delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones that originate from the Bay of Bengal. The presence of the ITCZ, the subtropical easterly jet stream, and the Coriolis force help them reach the east coast of India.
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