Dynamics of Land, Ocean, and Atmospheric Parameters Associated with Tauktae Cyclone

Abstract

Abstract During the pre- and post-monsoon season, the eastern and western coasts are highly vulnerable to cyclones. The tropical cyclone "Tauktae" formed in the Arabian Sea on 14 May 2021 and moved along the western coast of India, and landfall occurred on 17 May 2021. During the cyclone, the maximum wind speed was 220 km/hr with a pressure of 935 millibars. This cyclone influenced the meteorological and atmospheric parameters and weather conditions of western, northern, and central India and caused devastating damage. A detailed satellite, Argo, and ground data analysis have been carried out to study the changes in the ocean, atmospheric and meteorological parameters during the cyclone formation until the landfall and beyond. During cyclone generation, the air temperature (AT) was maximum (30.51oC), and winds (220 km/h) was strong with negative omega values (0.3). RH and RF were higher near the origin and landfall location of the cyclone, with an average of 81.28% and 21.45 mm/day, respectively. The concentration of traces gases (NO2, SO2, CH4, TCO, COVMR, and H2OMMR) and aerosols (AOD, AE and PMs) loading were increased over land along the cyclone track that degraded the quality of air. The detailed analysis shows pronounced changes in the land, ocean, meteorological and atmospheric parameters. The strong wind associated with the cyclone amalgamated the surrounding airmass degraded the air quality, and severely threatened the people living in the landfall areas. The results discussed in the present study show a pronounced change in the ocean, land, meteorological and atmospheric parameters and a strong coupling between the land-ocean-atmosphere associated with the cyclone.