Odisha-based SOA varsity organises seminar on tropical cyclone

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 22:

In the context of ever-increasing number of cyclones and their disastrous impact in coastal Odisha, a seminar on ‘Tropical Cyclones: Observation, Analysis & Prediction’ was organized at ITER of SOA University on Tuesday.The seminar was organized by Department of Civil Engineering, ITER, Indian Meteorological Society-Bhubaneswar Chapter and Foundation for Environmental & Social Research.

Chief guest Dr SC Sahu, Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar and chief speaker Prof UC Mohanty, president of Odisha Bigyan Academy were felicitated by the SOA University for their contributions to the field of climatological research and prediction.

In his address, Dr Sahu said every year around 100 cyclones occur in the world of which around 20 cyclones turn out to be disastrous.

As the Odisha coast is affected by the cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal, adequate preparedness is the key solution to this natural calamity, he added.

Prof Manas Das, head of Civil Engineering department, ITER said the cyclones Hudhud and Phailine which had caused extensive damage in October in the last two years are less severe in terms of death toll as compared to the Super Cyclone in 1999 due to their proper understanding, observation, tracking and prediction by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar.

As the civil engineers are amongst the key players in climatological observation and prediction as well as natural disaster management, the department of Civil Engineering of ITER has made efforts to provide a thorough understanding on these applied subjects that have been incorporated in the university curriculum.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof UC Mohanty said global warming and concerned climate change is the key issue in the present context as Odisha is highly vulnerable to its impact.

As the Odisha coast has a comparatively less sea water level with several rivers and rivulets the rate of evaporation is much more leading to the formation of stronger cyclones, he said, adding that the state has witnessed of 101 cyclones between 1892 to 1994 followed by 68 in Andhra Pradesh and 52 in West Bengal.