Arabian Sea Tropical Cyclones: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis in Support of Natural Hazard Risk Appraisal in Oman

Abstract

Tropical cyclones [TCs] are a common natural hazard that have significantly impacted Oman. Over the period 1881–2019, 41 TC systems made landfall in Oman, each associated with extreme winds, storm surges and significant flash floods, often resulting in loss of life and substantial damage to infrastructure. TCs affect Omani coastal areas from Muscat in the north to Salalah in the south. However, developing a better understanding of the high-risk regions is needed, and is of particular interest in disaster risk reduction institutions in Oman. This study aims to find and map TC tracks and their spatio-temporal distribution to landfall in Oman to identify the high-risk areas. The analysis uses Kernel Density Estimation [KDE] and Linear Direction Mean [LDM] methods to better identify the spatio-temporal distribution of TC tracks and their landfall in Oman. The study reveals clear seasonal and monthly patterns. This knowledge will help to improve disaster planning for the high-risk areas.

Climate, trends and variability of extreme winds along the southwest coast of India

“…The dominant wind systems in this region are southwest monsoon winds (Tudhope et al, 1996). Tropical cyclones are generally formed in the Arabian Sea during premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons (Al-Manji et al, 2021). Most of the cyclones have passed through the offshore regions of the Kerala coast, while cyclone Ockhi had a track very close to the coast in the southern part (Sanap et al, 2020).…”