In News:

Cyclone Chido makes landfall in Mozambique after leaving trail of destruction in French-administered Mayotte.

About Cyclone Chido:

• Location and Impact:
  • Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, in December 2024.
  • It is the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in at least 90 years.
• Cyclone Characteristics:
  • Wind speeds exceeded 200 km/h (124 mph), with gusts surpassing 225 km/h (140 mph).
  • The cyclone caused significant devastation to the region, prompting expressions of condolences from global leaders.

• Cyclone Classification:
  • According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclones are classified based on wind speed:
    • Depression: 31–49 km/h
    • Deep Depression: 50–61 km/h
    • Cyclonic Storm: 62–88 km/h
    • Severe Cyclonic Storm: 89–117 km/h
    • Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: 118–166 km/h
    • Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: 167–221 km/h
    • Super Cyclonic Storm: Above 222 km/h
  • Cyclone Chido was classified as a Super Cyclonic Storm, based on its wind speeds exceeding 222 km/h.

About Mayotte:

• Geography:
  • Mayotte is an archipelago in the Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique.
  • It consists of two main islands: Grande Terre (the larger main island) and Petite Terre (the smaller island of Pamandzi).
• Political and Economic Context:
  • Mayotte is an overseas department of France, and it is the poorest territory in both France and the European Union.
  • France colonized Mayotte in 1843 and annexed the entire Comoros archipelago in 1904.
  • A 1974 referendum showed that 95% of Comoros voters favored independence, but 63% of Mayotte's population voted to remain part of France. Subsequently, Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli declared independence in 1975.
  • Mayotte remains administratively under French governance.
• Biodiversity:
  • Mayotte is renowned for its rich biodiversity, particularly for having one of the world’s largest enclosed lagoons.

Cyclones

• What is a Cyclone?
  • A cyclone is a large-scale, rotating system of air that forms around a low-pressure area, bringing violent storms and extreme weather conditions.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones rotate anticlockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise due to the Coriolis effect.
• Tropical Cyclone Characteristics:
  • Calm Centre (Eye): The cyclone’s center, or "eye," experiences relatively calm weather with low air pressure.
  • High Wind Speed: Cyclones generally have average wind speeds around 120 km/h.
  • Closed Isobars: Isobars (lines of equal atmospheric pressure) are tightly packed, leading to high wind velocities.
  • Formation Over Oceans: Cyclones typically form over warm ocean waters.
  • East-to-West Movement: Influenced by trade winds, cyclones usually move from east to west.
  • Seasonal Nature: Cyclones occur during specific seasons based on regional climatic conditions.