| Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Climatology, Issue: Kallakkadal |
Context: Hundreds of houses have been flooded in coastal areas of Kerala due to high swell surge or Kallakkadal.
Kallakkadal
- A combination of two Malayalam words meaning “thief” and “sea,” symbolising the ocean’s sudden arrival.
- Refers to coastal flooding caused by swell waves during the pre-monsoon season on the southwest coast of India.
Factors responsible for formation:
- Caused by ocean swells generated by distant storms or intense gale winds, travelling thousands of kilometres until they reach the shore.
- Strong winds in the southern Indian Ocean generate ocean swells, which then move northward to affect the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.
Concerns
- Kallakkadal occurs without precursors or local wind activity (challenging to predict)
Preparedness measure: Early warning systems like the Swell Surge Forecast System offer forecasts up to seven days in advance.
