Cyclone Biparjoy UPSC Notes: Understanding the 2023 Arabian Sea Storm

Cyclone Biparjoy was a powerful tropical cyclone that developed over the southeast Arabian Sea in June 2023, eventually intensifying into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm." Named by Bangladesh, meaning "disaster" or "calamity" in Bengali, it was significant for its unusually long lifespan and its path toward the Gujarat coastline.  

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Cyclone Biparjoy 2023: Impact and Landfall in Gujarat

The trajectory and intensity of cyclone Biparjoy 2023 made it a major point of study for disaster management. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system originated as a cyclonic circulation on June 5, 2023, and quickly escalated into a very severe cyclonic storm.

Key Timeline and Tracking

• Cyclone Biparjoy Date: The system formed on June 6, 2023, and persisted for approximately 13 days, making it one of the longest-lived cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.  

• Cyclone Biparjoy Tracker: After moving nearly northward until June 14, the storm took a north-northeast turn. It crossed the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, making landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat on the evening of June 15, 2023.  

• Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat: At the time of landfall, the storm generated sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph. It caused heavy rainfall and flash flooding across Kutch, Dwarka, and Jamnagar before moving toward Rajasthan as a weakened system.  

Unique Meteorological Characteristics

One of the most notable aspects of this cyclone was its rapid intensification and slow movement. The Arabian Sea, which was unusually warm (30°C to 32°C), provided the necessary latent heat to fuel the storm for a longer duration than the average six-day lifespan of regional cyclones. Its slow pace allowed it to draw continuous moisture from the sea, even as it neared the coast, increasing its destructive potential.  

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Technical Insights for UPSC: Formation and Classification

For the UPSC exam, understanding the classification and naming mechanism is as vital as the event itself. Cyclones are rapidly rotating low-pressure systems characterized by a calm "eye" at the center and a violent "eyewall."  

Classification of Storms

The IMD classifies cyclones based on their maximum sustained surface wind speeds:

• Cyclonic Storm: 62–88 kmph  

• Severe Cyclonic Storm: 89–117 kmph  

• Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: 118–165 kmph  

• Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: 166–221 kmph (Biparjoy reached this peak intensity on June 11).

The Naming Mechanism

The name "Biparjoy" was provided by Bangladesh. The naming of tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean (including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) is managed by the RSMC (Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre) New Delhi.  

• Member Countries: There are 13 member nations under the WMO/ESCAP panel, including India, Pakistan, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen.  

• The Rule: Names must be neutral to politics, religion, and culture, and should not exceed eight letters.  

Environmental Significance and Climate Change

Historically, the Bay of Bengal has seen more frequent cyclones than the Arabian Sea. However, researchers have noted an increasing trend in the Arabian Sea due to global warming and rising sea surface temperatures. Biparjoy is a prime example of this shift. Interestingly, while the storm caused destruction, its remnants eventually helped abate severe heatwave conditions in parts of North and Northwest India by disrupting hot northwesterly winds.  

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Disaster Management: The "Zero Casualty" Mission

The handling of cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat is often cited as a success story in proactive disaster mitigation. The state and central governments aimed for a "Zero Casualty" goal through coordinated efforts:  

• Mass Evacuations: Over 100,000 people were moved to safer locations (schools and government buildings) before landfall.  

• Infrastructure Protection: Authorities focused on minimizing damage to power lines and communication networks, though over 4,600 villages still faced temporary outages.  

• Early Warnings: The IMD issued an "Orange Alert" well in advance, allowing for the activation of the Incident Response System (IRS).

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Frequently Asked Questions on Cyclone Biparjoy

1. What does the name "Biparjoy" mean?

The name was suggested by Bangladesh and means "disaster" or "calamity" in the Bengali language.

2. When and where did Cyclone Biparjoy make landfall?

It made landfall on June 15, 2023, near Jakhau Port in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India.

3. Why did Cyclone Biparjoy last so long?

The storm had a long life of thirteen days. This was because the sea water in the Arabian Sea was very warm it was thirty one, to thirty two degrees Celsius. The storm was also moving slowly between two high pressure systems. This helped the storm to keep its energy for a time. The warm water and slow movement of the storm allowed it to last for thirteen days. The Arabian Sea played a role in this because of its very warm sea surface temperatures.

4. What is the difference between a "Landfall" and a "Direct Hit"?

A landfall happens when the center of the storm, which is also called the eye moves over the land, near the coast.

A direct hit happens when the strongest part of the storm, which is called the eyewall reaches the land. The center of the storm the eye stays out in the water.

5. The agency that is in charge of naming cyclones in India is the India Meteorological Department is Known as?

They are the ones who give names to cyclones in India. The India Meteorological Department is responsible, for this task. They name cyclones in India so that people can easily identify them and understand how strong they are. The India Meteorological Department does this to help keep people safe.

The India Meteorological Department is a deal. It is one of the six offices in the world that focuses on the weather. The India Meteorological Department is in charge of giving names to cyclones that happen in the North Indian Ocean. This is a job, for the India Meteorological Department.