El Nino, climate change multiplies cyclone Michaung’s mayhem: Scientists

Severe Cyclone Michaung over the Bay of Bengal has been causing extremely heavy rains over the coastal parts of north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh during the last 48 hoursFor the mayhem scientists blame El Nino and the climate change multiplies stormrsquos impactTorrential and incessant rains have triggered flash flooding in Chennai which has claimed at least eight lives and inundated several streetsAfter bettering Tamil Nadu Michaung is now all set to make landfall near Bapatla coast in Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm any time now The proximity of the coast will weaken the storm just before the landfallAfter that it is most likely to recurve northeastward over land parallel to the coast With this it will keep proximity to the Bay of Bengal which would continue to infuse moisture into the systemThis would help Cyclone Michaung sustain its strength for a few hours after hitting the coast say climate expertsHowever even as a weakened depression and lowpressure area moderate to heavy rains accompanied by squally winds are expected over Andhra Pradesh Telangana and Odisha in the next few daysMichaung is the sixth storm of this year in Indian seasDecember is the peak month of the postmonsoon cyclone season where most of the cyclonic storms usually head towards Tamil Nadu and south Andhra PradeshWhile the formation of a tropical storm in the Bay of Bengal during December is very timely the intensity of rains associated with the cyclone Michaung is not normal say an expertClimate change multiplies impacts of cyclogenesis he saysThe frequency and intensity of cyclones have increased manifolds owing to global warming Ninetythree per cent of the heat is being observed by the oceans and warm waters act as an energy source for cyclonesScientists note that the intensity of the cyclone depends not only on sea surface temperature but more importantly on the volume of warm water in the oceanAccording to a report the increase in sea surface temperature could result in peak heavy rainfall in the tropical cyclone innercore region especially the rear sectorHeavy rainfall areas extend to greater distances around the tropical cyclone centreThe observed changes of tangential wind speed due to large sea surface enthalpy fluxes rate of flow of heat energy associated with ocean warming result in tropical cyclone size changes and then guide the cyclone to northeastward movementSimilar conditions were seen in Chennai which saw incessant rains on December 34 as the dense cloud bands of cyclone Michaung hovered over the cityldquoEl Ninos usually peak around Christmas in December a reason why they derive their name from the Spanish term for lsquolittle boyrsquo As oceans absorb more than 93 per cent of the additional heat from global warming El Ninos are also getting strongerrdquo said Roxy Mathew Koll Climate Scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical MeteorologyldquoThey are not little boys anymore but monsters of the sea Changes in oceancyclone interactions have emerged in recent decades in response to Indian Ocean warming and are to be closely monitored with improved observations since future climate projections demonstrate continued warming of the Indian Ocean at a rapid pace along with an increase in the intensity of cyclones in this basinrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever