Ecological Damages and Air Quality Impacts Associated with Tropical
Cyclone “Amphan” of 20 May 2020
Abstract
The east coast of India is prone to tropical cyclones. During
pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, almost every year, cyclones are
developed over the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. On 20 May 2020,
tropical cyclone Amphan made initial landfall at Bakkhali in the West
Bengal, India at 2:30 PM (local time) with wind velocity more than 175
km/h, which further intensified and moved into adjoining Bangladesh
coastal areas on 21 May 2020 with highest wind speed 260 km/h. The
cyclone formed on 16 May 2020 and dissipated finally on 21 May 2020.
More than 22,000 houses in Coastal parts of West Bengal, and nearly
220,000 houses in Bangladesh coastal areas were damaged, and
approximately 4.2 millions of people in both the countries were
relocated to safe places. This cyclone affected many of the eastern
states of India and 9 coastal districts of Bangladesh due to heavy
rainfall that caused deadly flood. In West Bengal, Kolkata airport was
flooded, and all the flights were closed. We have carried out analysis
of meteorological and atmospheric parameters that helped in formation of
the cyclone. Detailed analysis of multi satellite sensors, ground and
Argo data have been carried out that show pronounced changes in
ecological, atmospheric and ocean color parameters. The ocean parameters
such as chlorophyll concentration, dissolved oxygen, salinity, sea
surface and sub-surface temperature show strong changes in ocean ecology
that have serious impacts on the marine life. Strong
stratospheric-tropospheric exchange caused the rise in various trace
gases close to the ground. A detailed damage analysis along the Eastern
part of India and Bangladesh coast and major nearby cities and migration
of the population from the affected region will be discussed.