Atmospheric Storm Triggered and Intensified by Geodynamics: Case Studies from Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal Region in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

The study analyses the possible connection between the onset of cyclone and volcano-tectonic seismicity in the Andaman region. The historical data of the major volcanic, seismic, and atmospheric events from the region show that several of the geodynamic activities were followed by severe atmospheric disturbances over the region. In this study, we consider the case of three recent cyclones (Phailin, Hudhud, and Nilam) that either originated or were intensified over the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, and examine their correlation with the volcano-tectonic seismic events during the cyclone occurrence. The zenith total delay (ZTD) time series, derived from Global Positioning System data from the PBR2 station on Andaman Island, overlapping with the period of the cyclone occurrence were examined to distinguish the onset and intensification of the atmospheric events. The comparison of the sharp changes in ZTD associated with the cyclone and the seismic events during the period indicates that the atmospheric changes almost coincide or follow the geodynamic activity. Our study illustrates that volcano-tectonics of the region plays a role in the triggering of atmospheric disturbances.