Cyclone & Flood Management — Set 6

Correct Answer: C. 118–167 km/h

A Very Severe Cyclonic Storm has sustained wind speeds of 118–167 km/h according to IMD's classification. This is the fifth tier in the seven-tier scale, representing a serious threat to life and property. Cyclone Phailin (2013) was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm when it made landfall on the Odisha coast.

Correct Answer: B. Hurricane/cyclone intensity

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale measures the intensity of hurricanes and cyclones on a scale from 1 to 5 based on sustained wind speeds. It is primarily used in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific by the US National Hurricane Center. India uses its own seven-tier classification system through IMD rather than the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Correct Answer: B. IMD

IMD (India Meteorological Department) is the primary agency responsible for disseminating cyclone early warning information in India. IMD issues cyclone bulletins, alerts, and warnings through multiple channels including television, radio, SMS, and the Common Alerting Protocol system. This early warning system has been instrumental in reducing cyclone-related deaths significantly over the decades.

Correct Answer: C. Coastal states vulnerable to cyclones

The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) aims to reduce vulnerability of coastal communities in cyclone-prone states along India's coastline. The project is funded by the World Bank and the Government of India, focusing on states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal. It includes construction of multipurpose cyclone shelters, early warning systems, and coastal connectivity roads.

Correct Answer: B. 5 letters

IMD's cyclone naming convention for the North Indian Ocean does not use the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z — five letters of the English alphabet. These letters are avoided because they are difficult to pronounce clearly in various languages used across the 13 member countries that contribute names. The current naming list was expanded when 13 countries joined the naming protocol.

Correct Answer: C. 2004

India and the countries of the North Indian Ocean region began officially naming tropical cyclones in 2004. The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones agreed on the naming protocol, with RSMC New Delhi coordinating the process. Before 2004, cyclones in this region were identified only by their position and date.

Correct Answer: C. Coastal floods

Coastal flooding caused by storm surges from cyclones is classified as coastal flooding. Storm surges can drive seawater many kilometres inland, inundating coastal areas that may be normally well above sea level. Coastal flooding is particularly destructive because it combines the force of breaking waves with the sustained inundation of saline water.

Correct Answer: D. Narmada

The Narmada flows through a mostly rocky terrain and is not primarily associated with major flooding events like the Kosi, Brahmaputra, or Damodar rivers. The Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada also provides significant flood control downstream. In contrast, the Kosi, Brahmaputra, and Damodar have historically caused catastrophic floods in their respective regions.

Correct Answer: B. Breach of embankment in Nepal

The 2008 Kosi flood was caused by a breach in the Kosi embankment at Kusaha in Nepal on August 18, 2008, when the river shifted its course by about 100 kilometres to the east. This was the worst Kosi flood in 50 years and displaced approximately 3 million people in Bihar. The flood exposed the vulnerability of embankment-based flood management strategies.

Correct Answer: B. It carries enormous sediment loads and has a flat floodplain

The Brahmaputra causes severe flooding in Assam primarily because it carries enormous quantities of sediment from the Himalayas, raising its riverbed progressively, combined with its wide, flat floodplain that is easily inundated. The river receives massive rainfall in its catchment area and frequently changes its braided channels. Assam's topography and the river's dynamics make flood control extremely difficult.