An unusual cyclone in the Arabian Sea after crossing Gujarat's shore has left meteorologists perplexed.
This rare occurrence marks the first time since 1976 that a cyclone has formed in the Arabian Sea after traversing land, challenging long-held understanding of cyclone formation in the region.
The 1976 cyclone originated over Odisha, moved west-northwestward, entered the Arabian Sea, followed a looping track, and weakened over the northwest Arabian Sea near the Oman coast.
The timing of this cyclone is particularly baffling. Typically, the Arabian Sea's temperature during the monsoon season remains below 26 degrees Celsius, making cyclone formation unlikely between July and September.
A deep depression is a low-pressure system with wind speeds ranging from 52 kmph to 61 kmph, while a cyclone has wind speeds between 63 kmph and 87 kmph.
For cyclogenesis to occur, sea surface temperatures must exceed 26.5 degrees Celsius.
The western Arabian Sea is usually inhospitable to cyclone formation due to cooler sea temperatures and dry air from the Arabian Peninsula. These conditions contrast sharply with the more cyclone-friendly environments of the Bay of Bengal and eastern Arabian Sea.
Historically, the North Indian Ocean, which includes both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, experiences about five tropical cyclones annually. The Bay of Bengal typically sees four times as many cyclones as the Arabian Sea, with most occurring in May and November.
Madhavan Rajeevan, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, expressed surprise at this development, questioning whether global warming might be influencing these unusual conditions.
The intensification of this system challenges traditional understanding of the region's meteorology and raises important questions about changing climate patterns.
This unprecedented event points to urgent need for further research into the shifting dynamics of cyclogenesis in the Arabian Sea. Meteorologists are now faced with the task of understanding how global warming may be altering established weather patterns and cyclone formation processes in this region.
As climate change continues to impact global weather systems, events like this Arabian Sea cyclone point to potential long-term shifts in tropical storm behaviour.
The scientific community will be closely monitoring this cyclone's development and analysing its implications for future weather predictions and climate models in the region.
