Geography Project
Topic: Cyclone Biparjoy
What is a Cyclone?
Cyclone is defined as the mass of air that rotates around the center of
low pressure on a large scale. Cyclone is characterized by inward
spiraling winds, rota ng clockwise (Southern Hemisphere) or
an clockwise (Northern Hemisphere). Cyclone.
States in India prone to Cyclone.
Thirteen coastal states and Union Territories (UTs) in the country are
affected by tropical cyclones. Four states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) and one UT (Puducherry) on the
east coast and one state (Gujarat) on the west coast are more
vulnerable to cyclone hazards.
Cyclone Biparjoy.
Origin
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy was a long lived, powerful
tropical cyclone that formed over the east-central Arabian Sea. The third
depression and the second cyclonic storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean
cyclone season, Biparjoy originated from a depression that was first noted
by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 6 June, before
intensifying into a cyclonic storm.
Intensity
The long-lived cyclone had wind speeds of 129 kilometers (80 miles) per hour
on June 14, making it a category 1 storm Biparjoy was forecast to make
landfall around 5:30 p.m. local time on June 15 as a “very severe cyclonic
storm” with a sustained wind speed of 125 to 135 kilometers per hour.
Biparjoy’s wind speed increased from 55 to 139 kilometers per hour (34 to 86
miles per hour), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The
cyclone intensified again between June 9 and 10, when its wind speed
increased from 120 to 196 kilometers per hour (75 to 122 miles per hour)—
making it a category 3 storm. This windspeed was sustained into June 11,
when an astronaut aboard the International Space Station took the photo
below.
Impact
Gujarat's coastal areas experienced heavy rains and strong winds,
resulting in the loss of three lives in Kutch and Rajkot districts. Trees were
uprooted, and a wall collapsed due to the severe weather conditions.
Additionally, in Kutch, strong waves swept away tents situated on Mandvi
Beach. As the cyclone approached the coast, the Dwarka region
experienced high tides. The neighbouring state of Maharashtra also
witnessed heavy rains and high tidal waves. Four boys who had gone
missing after venturing into the Arabian Sea near Mumbai's Juhu area were
found deceased. A total of 23 people were injured as well as 4,600 villages
were affected by power outages. 5 also died in Rajasthan Hospitals in
northwest India received a high number of people who had been bitten by
snakes after a cyclone hit the region Rajasthan. In July 2023,
the Government of Gujarat announced relief package of ₹240
crore (US$30 million) for farmers. The government estimated crops and
trees spread across 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of land was
damaged by the cyclone. India’s western state of Gujarat and the densely
populated city of Karachi in Pakistan. In preparation for landfall, more
than 30,000 people and 200,000 animals had reportedly been evacuated to
higher ground.
