Examine the reasons behind Arabian sea becoming cyclone hotbed, which otherwise is a cyclone shy water body.

In recent years, Arabian Sea has been the site of onslaught wrecked by various cyclones.

Conventional conditions of Arabian Sea:

• Cooler ocean temperature.
• Lower atmospheric wind circulation.
• Lesser wind humidity.
• Descending air of high-pressure.
• Negligible cyclone development.

Reasons for becoming a cyclone hotbed:

• Rising ocean temperature in the entire Indian Ocean, much faster than other oceans.
• Shift of Bay of Bengal cyclones to Arabian Sea.
• Changing wind pattern, upper air divergence.
• Creation of frequent low pressure systems.
• Impacts of global climate change.

Way ahead:

• Disaster preparedness.
• Climate research.
• Early warning.

India needs to leverage its integrated cyclone mitigation system on all coasts.

Topics: GS-I: Changes in Critical Geographical Features