what are cyclones?How are they formed?Why …

The energy required to form and sustain a cyclone comes from the heat of condensation of water vapour present in moist air rising from the surface of hot sea water. Before cloud formation, water takes up heat from the atmosphere to change into vapour. When water vapour changes back to liquid form as raindrops, this heat is released to the atmosphere. The heat released to the atmosphere warms the air around. The air tends to rise and causes a drop in pressure. More air rushes to the centre of the storm. This cycle is repeated. The chain of events ends with the formation of a very low-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it. This is called as cyclone. The centre of cyclone is called eye of the cyclone. A cyclone is called as ‘ chakkravaat or bavandar’ in hindi. Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature and humidity contribute to the development of cyclones.

Destruction Caused By Cyclones:

Cyclones are the greatest storms on earth and can be very destructive. It causes loss of life in coastal area in three ways:

1. The force of high speed winds accompanying cyclone destroys trees, electric poles, telephone poles, vehicles houses and causes threat to life.  Strong winds push water towards shore even if the storm is hundreds of kilometers away. These are the first indications of an approaching cyclone.
2. The extremely low pressure in the eye lifts the water surface of the sea. The rising water may be as high as 3–12 metres. The rising sea water appears like a water-wall moving towards the shore. As a result, the seawater enters the low-lying coastal areas, causing severe loss of life and property. It also reduces the fertility of the soil. Continuous heavy rainfall may further worsen the flood situation. High-speed winds accompanying a cyclone can damage houses, telephones and other communication systems, trees, etc., causing tremendous loss of life and property.
3. Cyclones bring with them torrential rains. The continuous heavy rains brought by cyclones may worsen the flood situation in the cyclone prone areas.
4. The floods caused by cyclones causes polluted drinking water which causes water borne diseases like typhoid and dysentery.