The Bay of Bengal has become a major hotspot for tropical cyclones due to a steady rise in sea surface temperature (SST). Warm ocean water—typically above 26.5°C—provides the heat and moisture necessary for cyclone formation. Over the past few decades, SST in the Bay has increased by approximately 0.5°C to 1°C, creating favourable conditions for more frequent and intense cyclonic activity.
When seawater warms, it evaporates more rapidly, releasing large amounts of latent heat into the atmosphere. As moist air rises and cools, condensation occurs, releasing energy that further strengthens the surrounding air circulation. This self-reinforcing process helps build a low-pressure system that, under suitable conditions, intensifies into a tropical cyclone.
Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): A positive IOD phase leads to warmer waters in the western Indian Ocean while influencing convection and moisture transport towards the Bay of Bengal, increasing storm potential.
La Niña: While it cools the central Pacific, it warms the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean, enhancing convection and favouring cyclone development in the Bay of Bengal.
Deforestation, mangrove destruction, and wetland degradation along coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha have weakened natural barriers. This loss of ecosystem resilience increases vulnerability to storm surges, flooding, and coastal erosion during cyclonic events.
Since 2010, Andhra Pradesh has experienced several major cyclones including Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014), Titli (2018), and Michaung (2023), with wind speeds reaching up to 260 km/h. The trend highlights an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe and very severe cyclonic storms over the decade.
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