• UGI USER
  • Apr 03, 2024
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WHAT IS KALLAKATHAL, WHICH HAS FLOODED HOUSES IN KERALA’S

Why in the news?

Coastal flooding, termed Kallakkadal, hits Kerala due to swell waves; authorities open relief camps; distinguished from tsunamis.

source:springer

About the Causes and Occurrence:

  • Ocean swells, not local winds, create Kallakkadal, travelling thousands of kilometers from storm centers.
  • Strong winds in the southern Indian Ocean generate swell waves, which reach Kerala’s coast within a few days.
  • Recent occurrence attributed to a low atmospheric pressure system moving from the Atlantic Ocean, creating waves up to 3 meters high.
What is Kallakkadal ?

●   Kallakkadal refers to coastal flooding caused by swell waves during the pre-monsoon season in Kerala.

●   These waves are generated by distant storms like hurricanes, transferring energy from air to water, forming high waves.

●   The term originates from Malayalam, combining “Kallan” (thief) and “Kadal” (sea), depicting the ocean’s sudden arrival.