The Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to a tropical cyclonic sto...
Typically, the Arabian Sea experiences a lesser number of cyclones than the Bay of Bengal. Still, in 2019 it saw a more significant amount of tropical cyclones than the Bay of Bengal. Five of the eight cyclones - 60 per cent of the total - that affected India in 2019 were in the Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to cyclonic storms than the Bay of Bengal because:
• The Arabian Sea has less sea surface temperature than the Bay of Bengal. This cold sea surface temperature is not favourable for the development and sustenance of cyclonic storms. So, statement (2) is correct.
• Coriolis Force is directly proportional to the latitude, as both the water bodies are on similar latitude Coriolis Force is almost the same. So, statement (1) is not correct.
• Track of Tropical cyclone is determined by tropical easterly wind; thus cyclones move from east to west direction; therefore cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal hit the eastern coast of India while cyclones of the Arabian Sea move away from the west coast of India. Generally, 25% of the cyclones that develop over the Arabian Sea approach the west coast. So, statement (3) is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (c).
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The Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to a tropical cyclonic sto...
Reasons why the Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to tropical cyclonic storms than the Bay of Bengal:
1) Weaker Coriolis Force over the Arabian Sea than the Bay of Bengal:
- The Coriolis force is a deflection force that is responsible for the rotation of cyclonic storms.
- The Coriolis force is influenced by the rotation of the Earth and is stronger at higher latitudes.
- The Bay of Bengal is located at lower latitudes compared to the Arabian Sea, resulting in a stronger Coriolis force in the Bay of Bengal.
- The stronger Coriolis force in the Bay of Bengal provides favorable conditions for the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones.
- In contrast, the weaker Coriolis force over the Arabian Sea makes it less conducive for the development of tropical cyclonic storms.
2) Lesser water surface temperature in the Arabian Sea than the Bay of Bengal:
- Tropical cyclones derive their energy from warm ocean waters, and higher sea surface temperatures provide favorable conditions for their formation and intensification.
- The Bay of Bengal generally has higher water surface temperatures compared to the Arabian Sea due to various factors such as proximity to the equator and the presence of warm ocean currents.
- The higher water surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal provide a conducive environment for the development and intensification of tropical cyclones.
- On the other hand, the Arabian Sea generally has lower water surface temperatures, which act as a limiting factor for the formation and intensification of tropical cyclonic storms.
3) Role of tropical easterly to influence the track of tropical cyclone:
- Tropical easterlies are prevailing winds that blow from east to west in the tropics.
- These winds can influence the track of tropical cyclones by either steering them towards land or pushing them away from land.
- The Bay of Bengal is more influenced by tropical easterlies compared to the Arabian Sea.
- The presence of strong tropical easterlies in the Bay of Bengal can steer tropical cyclones towards the coastlines of countries in the region, making them more prone to landfall and causing greater damage.
- In contrast, the Arabian Sea is less influenced by tropical easterlies, resulting in a lower likelihood of tropical cyclones making landfall in the surrounding regions.
Conclusion:
Considering the above reasons, it can be concluded that the Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to tropical cyclonic storms than the Bay of Bengal due to the weaker Coriolis force, lower water surface temperatures, and lesser influence of tropical easterlies.