Cyclone Arnab left parts of the Andhra Pradesh coast battered after bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Amid the storm’s passage, NASA ‘s satellite captured a nighttime image of Cyclone Arnab as it moved across the Bay of Bengal.
The image was captured two days before the landfall.
Cyclone Arnab developed during the ongoing El Niño period. El Niño is a climate pattern associated with warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific Ocean . The phenomenon occurs roughly once every two to seven years. This phenomenon can influence weather conditions across the globe. Changes linked to El Niño can affect rainfall patterns, winds and the development of tropical cyclones . These conditions can also influence the occurrence of other weather-related events, including floods and fires. Research on the Bay of Bengal suggests that El Niño conditions may be associated with fewer tropical cyclones and lower storm intensity in the region. Studies have found that the basin generally experiences less frequent and less intense tropical cyclones during El Niño years. Arnab’s development during the ongoing El Niño period runs counter to this broader pattern of changing cyclone activity.
