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Analysis of atmospheric and oceanic conditions during unusual occurrence of tropical cyclone Gulab and Shaheen in North Indian Ocean

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Abstract

Abstract

During September 2021, a tropical cyclone (TC) named Gulab formed in Bay of Bengal (BoB) region of North Indian Ocean (NIO) and by nature, it was quite an unusual one as it crossed the Indian subcontinent and re-emerged as TC Shaheen in Arabian Sea (AS) which made landfall at the coast of Oman. These two cyclones were unique from two aspects: (i) formed in active southwest monsoon period in the month of September, which is a very rare event in NIO and (ii) formation of TCs in BoB and its re-emergence in AS, in the form of a cyclonic storm after crossing the Indian continent is uncommon. Along with these two, another exception was landfall at Oman coast, which is again very rare. The different large scale atmospheric and oceanic parameters, during development of TC Gulab in BoB and its re-emergence as TC Shaheen in AS are analysed using the reanalysis data and satellite derived products. The results suggest that vertical wind shear (VWS) during genesis of TC Gulab was unusually low and favourable for cyclonic storm development in BoB. The middle level relative humidity over central India was also high (positive anomaly), which supported remnants of TC Gulab to survive as a low-pressure weather system in land region. Later, it evolves into as TC Shaheen in AS, and due to favourable Sea Surface Temperature and Oceanic Heat Content it further intensifies to a very severe category cyclonic storm.

Research highlights

  • The best track data analysis in the north Indian Ocean reveals that TC Gulab and Shaheen were the unique systems in terms of their genesis, track and landfall.

  • During the September month due to high vertical wind shear in the BoB, in general the low- pressure systems do not attain the intensity of a tropical storm. However, TC Gulab could turn into a TC in the September month due to favourable SST and low vertical wind shear.

  • The atmospheric moisture content over the land was high due to active monsoon month, which helps the survival of remnant of TC Gulab, re-emerges and evolves as TC Shaheen in the Arabian Sea due to high ocean heat potential and sufficiently warm sea water, along with the favourable atmospheric conditions like low wind shear and high relative humidity.

  • The behaviour of TC Gulab and Shaheen may have some linkage to the climate change, which is influencing the occurrence of more intense cyclonic system in the Arabian Sea that is affecting the Middle East costal region.

  • The recent trend of rising SST signals the more frequent occurrence of such TCs in the Arabian Sea, creating an alarm situation for the cyclone vulnerability of the Arabian Sea basin countries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to anonymous reviewers for critical comments and suggestions, which were helpful in improving the quality of the manuscript substantially. The support and encouragement from the Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC) and the Deputy Director of EPSA, SAC are thankfully acknowledged. The near real-time cyclone track data from Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) and Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi over NIO are acknowledged. The INSAT observations were taken from www.mosdac.gov.in. The authors thank Dr B Kartikeyan and Dr Arundhati Misra, Senior Scientists, SAC, for critically going through the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AOSG, Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad, 380 015, India

    Neeru Jaiswal, M Jishad, Sanjib K Deb, Atul K Varma, Neeraj Agarwal & Rashmi Sharma

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  1. Neeru Jaiswal
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  2. M Jishad
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  3. Sanjib K Deb
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Contributions

NJ and JM performed maximum computations. NJ and SKD analysed the results from the computations and wrote the manuscript. AKV, NA and RS added their expertise to the analysed results and overhauled it in the present form.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjib K Deb.

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Communicated by P A Francis

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Jaiswal, N., Jishad, M., Deb, S.K. et al. Analysis of atmospheric and oceanic conditions during unusual occurrence of tropical cyclone Gulab and Shaheen in North Indian Ocean. J Earth Syst Sci 132, 109 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02129-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02129-7

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