Q.1 What are the primary reasons behind the heightened frequency of Tropical Cyclones in the Arabian Sea compared to earlier periods?

Ans. Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas bringing about large-scale destruction caused by violent winds, very heavy rainfall and storm surges.

• They are known as Cyclones in the Indian Ocean, Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Typhoons in the Western Pacific and South China Sea, and Willy-willies in Western Australia.
• Generally, Tropical cyclones are more frequent in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea.
• But according to a paper in Elsevier’s Earth Science Reviews there has been a 52% increase in the frequency of cyclones during the recent epoch (2001–2019) in the Arabian Sea, while there is a decrease of 8% in the Bay of Bengal.
• Further, there has been an 80% increase in the total duration of cyclones in the Arabian Sea during the last two decades.

The various reasons are:

• Increasing Surface Temperature
  • The sea surface temperatures over the Arabian Sea increased by 1.2°C to 1.4°C in recent decades compared to four decades ago.
  • The rising temperature is also enabling the Arabian Sea to supply ample energy for the intensification of cyclones.
• Reduced Vertical Wind Sheer
  • The increase in ocean and atmosphere warming and reduced vertical wind shear have led to the intensification of Tropical Cyclone.
  • The weakening of the vertical wind shear is due to the strengthening of anticyclonic circulation over central India.
• Wind Intensity
  • Climate change is altering the global atmospheric circulations.
  • It has led to an intensification of easterly winds, which is pushing cyclones from Bay of Bengal towards the Arabian Sea.
  • E.g., Cyclone Ockhi was generated in Bay of Bengal and drifted towards the Arabian Sea due to intense easterly winds.
• Impact of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
  • Increasing frequency of Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (increasing sea surface temperature in the western Indian Ocean than Eastern Indian Ocean) providing a suitable ground for cyclone generation.

These findings underscore the evolving dynamics of cyclone behaviour in the Arabian Sea and emphasize the need for continued research and preparedness measures to mitigate the increasing risks posed by these storms to coastal communities and ecosystems.

Q.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of community-based approaches in disaster risk reduction.

Ans. Community-based approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR) are strategies that involve local communities in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of disasters.

These approaches have proven to be effective in various ways:

• Effective First Responder
  • In disaster situations, communities are often the first responders and are crucial in the immediate aftermath.
  • Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) can enhance their capability for prompt response.
  • A well-prepared community can act efficiently during the golden hour, saving lives and minimizing impacts on both humans and livestock.
• Utilization of Local Knowledge
  • Communities have valuable knowledge about their local environment, historical disaster patterns, and effective coping strategies.
  • This knowledge can be crucial in designing effective DRR measures.
• People Approved Development Plan
  • On the other hand, disaster planning that includes input from the community produces not only higher quality outputs/strategies but also far higher levels of community approval and confidence in the plans.
• Awareness Generation
  • Many disasters can be prevented or mitigated by raising awareness among local people about their occurrence and potential impacts.
• Long-term Engagement
  • Community involvement ensures that DRR initiatives are not just one-off projects but part of an ongoing process of risk reduction and resilience building.

While community-based approaches have many benefits, they also face several challenges:

• Capacity Building
  • It is challenging to inculcate the necessary training and skill development among local people.
• Resource Limitations
  • Communities, especially in low-income areas, may lack the necessary financial and material resources.
• Lack of Coordination
  • Effective coordination between various stakeholders, including local governments, NGOs, and community groups, is essential but can be difficult to achieve.
• Sustaining Engagement
  • Maintaining long-term engagement and interest from the community can be challenging, especially if immediate results are not visible.

Overcoming these challenges requires concerted efforts from governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to provide training, resources, and continuous support. By addressing these challenges, community-based DRR can significantly contribute to reducing disaster risks and enhancing resilience at the local level.

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