Cyclones and sea levels are rising but slow!

“The Threat of Coastal Flooding very much alive “

Everyone must have heard that the climate change would have a huge impact on the lives of the people but the people never know when such conditions would erupt, we have heard a lot about increase in cyclones, gradual rise of sea waters and countless other climatic condition that could devastate our lives, so If the current reports by scientists are to be trusted then it is quite evident that the sea level is rising and they continue to threaten the world especially the coastal communities. The sea level is rising but the rate is much slow than previously expected and it varies from region to region.

Sea level rising – Beware of the gushing waters!

Globally water level have risen by 3mm per year but this does not mean that people need to calm down because there has been a huge variation in this scenario for instance the Philippine Sea is rising at the rate of 10 mm per year with some part reaching 12 mm per year. Sea level near lower southern Japan is also rising at 12 mm per year while other parts of the sea level near the country has shown a drop of – 3 mm to – 4 mm per year which is quite astonishing.

Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal rising as well?

Most part of the Arabian sea that touches the Pakistani and Indian coast have shown an increase of 3 mm per year but sadly the Indian Gulf of Khambat has shown a rise of 6 mm per year while some parts of sea near Oman have also risen.

The condition is similar in Bay of Bengal as well but a decrease in sea level over central Bay of Bengal has been observed as well. Overall the sea level is rising slowly in North Indian ocean excluding small areas where a decrease has been observed.

Frequency of tropical cyclones – Beware of the roaring waters!

Arabian sea is usually considered dull when compared with its arch enemy the Bay of Bengal, which is also a part of the north Indian ocean. Bay of Bengal is famous for its small but destructive cyclones that usually take the lives of more than 500 people in either Burma, Bangladesh or eastern India. The world’s most deadliest cyclone also formed in the Bay of Bengal that was the Bhola cyclone that struck East Pakistan present day Bangladesh in 1971. Depression from Bay of Bengal are vital for monsoon advancement but since past few years there has been slight decrease in these depression while a steady increase in the tropical activity in the Arabian sea.

Comparison – Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea

There must be enough systems in the Bay of Bengal to trigger good monsoon precipitation over Indian Sub-continent. Since last two years, Bay of Bengal is mostly producing weak depression that have difficulty intensifying further. Following is the tropical activity of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea since 2000;

• In 2000, 6 in the Bay of Bengal – Nil in the Arabian sea.
• In 2001, 2 in the Bay of Bengal – 3 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2002, 6 in the Bay of Bengal – 1 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2003, 4 in the Bay of Bengal – 1 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2004, 5 in the Bay of Bengal – 5 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2005, 12 in the Bay of Bengal – 2 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2006, 11 in the Bay of Bengal – 2 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2007, 8 in the Bay of Bengal – 3 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2008, 8 in the Bay of Bengal – 2 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2009, 5 in the Bay of Bengal – 3 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2010, 6 in the Bay of Bengal – 2 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2011, 5 in the Bay of Bengal – 4 in the Arabian sea.
• In 2012, Nil in the Bay of Bengal – Nil in the Arabian sea. (Till now)

Bright chance of cyclones hitting mega cities!

There is much evidence that suggests that cyclones have in fact increased between 1979 and 2011, both in frequency and strength. We have seen some strong tropical activity in the Arabian sea in recent years that are 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2011

Tropical cyclones that form over the Arabian Sea have a high chance of making landfall as the stretch of sea is relatively small as compared to Atlantic hurricanes and Pacific typhoons. Depending on track there are bright chances that future cyclones can directly strike mega metropolis cities like Mumbai and Karachi that could kill thousands of people and may change the way these cities used to live.