Cyclone Seroja

Tropical Cyclone Seroja had first made its appearance on April 4th, forming in the body of water between the southern parts of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. As the days went by, it quickly amassed high winds and dangerous rain conditions making it a fearsome threat especially for island nations like Indonesia. Initially, Cyclone Seroja caused landslides and flooding in some of the southern parts of Indonesia and then passed over some islands into the Indian Ocean. The sheer volume of rain pouring down in Timor-Leste was extraordinary. This amount of torrential downpour resulted in the dirt beneath buildings becoming weak, and as a result, the buildings collapsed. The combined estimates from Timor-Leste and parts of Indonesia show that approximately 70,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and the death count tolls into the hundreds. Once it passed over Indonesia and Timor-Leste and was west of Australia, the cyclone had a brutal confrontation with another cyclone named Cyclone Odette.

Seroja was a category 2 tropical cyclone at the time of its meeting with Cyclone Odette, whereas Odette was more of a category 1 storm, which did not cause much damage on its own. However, an unfortunate phenomenon occurred where Seroja merged with Cyclone Odette, while simultaneously siphoning power of Odette to make itself strong. This is called the Fujiwhara effect, and it generally occurs when two cyclones meet and get closer together at the areas where they both have low pressure when compared to the rest of the cyclone. After a span of about 2 to 3 days, Seroja completely absorbed all the momentum of Odette and propelled itself south west.

However, Cyclone Seroja abruptly turned back south east, and it headed straight for the western regions of Australia. By this time, Seroja was at category 3 in the cyclone ranking system and ravaged areas near Geraldton, Australia. More than 13,000 people are without power because of the cyclone in Australia, and 70 percent of the properties near Geraldton have been damaged in some way or the other. Perhaps one of the most alarming things about these two cyclones was that the ocean temperature was higher by up to 2 to 3 degrees when the cyclones met. This caused Cyclone Seroja to pick up even more power and strength in terms of rain and wind. The increase in temperature indicates some sort of relationship between global warming and increasing temperatures. However, there are some ways to donate to the cause and help out the many lives affected by Cyclone Seroja. Here are some charities listed below that will go directly to areas in need like Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Australia.

Charities

• Give2Asia

-This charity addresses the needs of people living in Indonesia and Timor-Leste regarding flash floods in the area

-They give emergency rations, clean drinking water, medicine and vitamins, clothes, bedding, tents, and psychosocial support for children and families effected

-https://give2asia.org/flood-relief-indonesia-timor-leste-2021/

• Australian Red Cross

-Addresses the needs of those in west Australia affected by Cyclone Seroja

-We save lives and support people before and after disasters strike. We work to alleviate suffering during wars and conflict and promote the laws of war. And we work to assist our most vulnerable community members – no matter their circumstances.

-https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/donation-forms/australian-red-cross-donate

References

Disasterphilanthropy.org, disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/cyclone-seroja/.

Logan, Tyne. “What Was a Tropical Cyclone Doing so Far South This Late in the Season?” ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2021, www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-12/fujiwhara-effect-drives-cyclone-unusually-far-south/100063170.

US Department of Commerce, NOAA. “Fujiwhara Effect.” National Weather Service, NOAA's National Weather Service, 21 Aug. 2020, www.weather.gov/news/fujiwhara-effect#:~:text=When two hurricanes spinning in,its vortex to be absorbed.