Latest news with #CycloneTauktae
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Climate change impacting cyclones, Maha agri: Study
Nagpur: Rising sea surface temperatures are spurring severe to super cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea over the last two decades, finds a study, which also flagged increased adverse weather events in the latter part of North Indian Ocean because of climate change. The joint study by Dr Rizwan Ahmed, IMD scientist at RMC Nagpur, Shahenaz Mulla, a meteorologist at Climate Research Services, IMD Pune, and Prof Sudhir Kumar Singh from K Banerjee Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Studies, University of Allahabad, revealed the escalating impact of climate change on tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean and their devastating effects on Maharashtra's agriculture. "We found a troubling shift in cyclone patterns over the Arabian Sea driven by climate change. Cyclones are growing in intensity, lasting longer over land, and penetrating deeper inland, far beyond traditional coastal zones. This transformation is wreaking havoc on Maharashtra's agricultural sector, causing prolonged flooding, increased soil salinity, root stress, and widespread crop failure," said Dr Ahmed. Titled "Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Land-Falling Tropical Cyclones over the North Indian Ocean and Their Effects on Coastal Agriculture in Maharashtra", the research was recently published in the Scopus-indexed journal Tropical Cyclone Research and Review, recognised by the World Meteorological Organization and ESCAP's typhoon committee. According to the study, a total of 44 severe or super cyclones occurred between 2001 and 2012 of the study period. Data analysis revealed that 35 (80%) tropical cyclones were eye pattern, which usually take a severe form. "Case studies of Cyclone Nisarga (2020) and Cyclone Tauktae (2021) highlight the scale of destruction, with Nisarga alone inflicting over Rs1,000 crore in damages, impacting 1.4 lakh homes, and ruining nearly 20,000 hectares of farmland in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts," Dr Ahmed said. The research also shows a shift in the overland duration of tropical cyclones. The Arabian Sea experienced 170 hours (7 days) of cyclones from 1982-2000, which increased to 367 hours (15.2 days) from 2001-21. Correspondingly, the cyclones reduced in the Bay of Bengal from 1295 to 1062, respectively, for the same periods. "This study demonstrates that climate change is modifying the behaviour of tropical cyclones. Their increasing strength and inland reach directly threaten coastal agricultural livelihoods in states like Maharashtra. There is an urgent need to strengthen early warning systems, adopt salt-tolerant crop varieties, and develop comprehensive coastal land-use management policies," Dr Ahmed said. Mulla added, "Vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) quantified evidence of sharp declines in vegetation health following cyclone events. Our findings have significant policy implications for agricultural planning and the restructuring of crop insurance schemes in cyclone-prone regions." The research utilised advanced tools like INSAT-3D/3DR satellite data, Doppler weather radar, and forecasting models to track cyclone paths and intensities. Vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) quantified post-cyclone crop and soil damage. Study Highlights - A marked increase in cyclone intensity, duration over land, and inland penetration, which now regularly extends far beyond traditional coastal impact zones - These changes in cyclone behaviour are having cascading effects on agriculture, including prolonged flooding, increased soil salinity, root stress, and crop failure in regions that were previously less exposed - Case studies of Cyclone Nisarga (2020) and Cyclone Tauktae (2021) illustrate how these systems are no longer limited to coastal disruptions but are severely affecting interior districts - Cyclone Nisarga alone caused over Rs1,000 crore in damages, affected more than 1.4 lakh homes, and damaged nearly 20,000 hectare farmland in Maharashtra's Raigad and Ratnagiri districts
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Will Mumbai receive heavy rain today? Here's IMD's weather forecast
Mumbai rain forecast: Days after torrential downpour pounded Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department forecast a "generally cloudy sky with heavy rain" for the financial capital on Wednesday, May 28. There is also a possibility of thunder or lightning accompanied by gusty winds at isolated places, it added. According to the weather department, the minimum temperature for the day is likely to settle at 24 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is expected to be around 31 degrees Celsius. IMD's weather forecast said scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is likely over Konkan and Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra from May 27 to June 2. It also forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places over Madhya Maharashtra from May 27 to 29, and over Konkan and Goa from May 27 to June 2. "Isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely over Konkan and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on May 27," the weather office added. A day after the onset of the southwest monsoon, Mumbai received the highest one-day rainfall in May since 2021, when the extremely severe cyclonic storm Cyclone Tauktae, said to be the worst cyclone in the last four decades, brushed past the city. In the 24 hours ending at 8.30am on Tuesday, the city baseline weather station in Santacruz recorded 144 mm of rain while Colaba recorded 161.9 mm. As of Tuesday morning, Santacruz logged 324 mm of rainfall, while Colaba recorded the highest ever rainfall in May, breaching its previous record of 279.4 mm in 1918. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday fined the operators of four out of ten mini pumping stations for failing to install and operate pumps to drain the water accumulated at key locations in the city following heavy rainfall a day ago. Locations across Mumbai reported severe waterlogging on Monday after the city received heavy rainfall. Vehicular and rail traffic was affected in several areas. The BMC said that mini pumping station operators at four points, Hindmata, Gandhi Market, Yellow Gate, and Chunabhatti, all located in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, were penalised ₹10 lakh each. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) on Tuesday clarified that the water seepage inside the Acharya Atre Chowk metro station was caused by a "sudden kind of event" that could not be prevented. It asserted that there is "no safety issue" with the underground Metro system. MMRC managing director Ashwini Bhide said there is absolutely no safety issue as far as the underground Metro is concerned, adding that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed after Monday morning's incident. Operations between the Acharya Atre Chowk metro station and Worli were suspended on Monday as rainwater flooded the Aqua line station on Mumbai Metro's Line 3.
