CYCLONE REMAL -
GEOGRAPHY
News: Cyclone Remal Highlights:
Cyclonic storm hits Bangladesh coast
What's in the news?
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The cyclone is forecasted to hit West Bengal on May
26, bringing extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds to the coastal areas of Bangladesh and West
Bengal.
Key takeaways:
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The primary regions affected by Cyclone Remal are
West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura and parts of the northeastern states.
Cyclone Remal:
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Cyclone Remal is a tropical cyclone that formed in the Northern Indian Ocean, specifically in the Bay of Bengal.
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The name “Remal” means “sand” in Arabic and was named by Oman, following the standard
naming protocol for cyclones in the region.
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Cyclone Remal recently struck the coasts of
Bangladesh and West Bengal, causing fatalities, power outages, and inundation
of coastal areas.
Reasons Behind the
Formation of Cyclone Remal:
1. Sea Surface Warming:
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The main driver of Remal’s formation is the
increased sea surface temperatures, which provide the necessary energy for
cyclone development.
2. Low Wind Shear:
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Low wind shear conditions allow for better storm
organization and strengthening.
3. Moist Atmosphere:
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High moisture levels in the atmosphere are crucial
as they contribute to condensation, releasing energy that fuels the cyclone.
4. Atmospheric
Instability:
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Warm, moist air rising rapidly leads to cloud
formation and energy release, which are essential for cyclone development.
Go back to basics:
Naming Cyclones in the
North Indian Ocean:
Panel on Tropical
Cyclones (PTC):
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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) formed
the Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) in 1972.
Members of PTC:
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Originally Eight Member Countries - Bangladesh, India,
Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, and Thailand.
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In 2018, the PTC expanded to include Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen.
Naming Cyclones:
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At the twenty-seventh session in 2000 in Muscat,
Oman, the PTC decided to assign names to tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal
and Arabian Sea.
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Cyclone naming started in 2004 after finalizing a
list based on recommendations from panel countries.
Current Cyclone Naming
List:
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In April 2020, a list of 169 cyclone names was
released, with 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries. This list is
currently in use.
Guiding Principles for
Cyclone:
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Neutrality: Proposed names should be neutral and not favour
any particular political party, religion, culture, or gender.
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Sensitivity: Name should not hurt the sentiments of the people
around the world.
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Respectful Tone: Name should be short, easy to pronounce and not
offensive, cruel, and rude.
● Length Limit: Cyclones name can go to maximum eight letters long.