With reference to the Fujiwhara effect, consider the following stateme...
Recently, powerful winds tormented the Bay Area and other parts of Central and Southern California, uprooting trees and disrupting the power supply due to Fujiwhara effect.
- It was identified by a Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara.
- It was observed for the first time over the western Pacific Ocean, when typhoons Marie and Kathy merged in 1964.
- What it is?
- When two hurricanes (or cyclones, depending on where you live), spinning in the same direction, are brought close together, they begin ‘an intense dance around their common center’ – this interaction between two cyclones is called the Fujiwhara effect.
- When it Occur?
- If one hurricane’s intensity overpowers the other, then the smaller one will orbit it and eventually crash into its vortex to be absorbed.
- On the other hand, if two storms of similar strengths pass by each other, they may gravitate towards each other until they reach a common center and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths.
- In rare instances, the two ‘dancing’ cyclones, if they are intense enough, may merge with one another, leading to the formation of a mega cyclone capable of wreaking havoc along coastlines.
- Experts have noted the rising frequency of this unusual effect, attributing it to a rapidly warming world and the subsequent heating of ocean waters.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
With reference to the Fujiwhara effect, consider the following stateme...
Statement 1: It occurs when a warm and cold ocean currents mix with each other.
The Fujiwhara effect refers to the interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, typically tropical cyclones, where they rotate around a common center. It does not depend on the mixing of warm and cold ocean currents. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.
Statement 2: It is aided by rapid warming of ocean waters.
The Fujiwhara effect is primarily influenced by the relative strength and proximity of the two vortices, rather than the temperature of ocean waters. Therefore, statement 2 is also incorrect.
Hence, the correct answer is option B - 2 only.
Explanation:
The Fujiwhara effect is a phenomenon that occurs when two cyclonic vortices, such as tropical cyclones or hurricanes, come into close proximity to each other. When this happens, the two vortices can begin to rotate around a common center, influencing each other's movement and behavior.
The effect is named after Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist who first described it in 1921. He observed that when two cyclones approached each other, they would begin to orbit each other in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Fujiwhara effect occurs due to the interaction between the vortices' circulation patterns. The stronger storm tends to dominate the weaker one, causing it to move in a curved path around the stronger storm. The specific behavior of the vortices depends on their relative strength, size, and distance from each other.
It is important to note that the Fujiwhara effect is not dependent on the mixing of warm and cold ocean currents. Instead, it is primarily influenced by the strength and proximity of the vortices. When two cyclones are close enough, their circulation patterns can interact and result in the Fujiwhara effect.
In conclusion, the Fujiwhara effect occurs when two cyclonic vortices, such as tropical cyclones, approach each other closely. It is not influenced by the mixing of warm and cold ocean currents or the rapid warming of ocean waters.
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