Why in News? Anticyclonic circulations over the North Indian Ocean and the Indian subcontinent exist even now.

What are Anticyclones?

An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined as a large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure. It is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to a cyclone).

What Generates Anticyclones over the Indian Ocean and the Indian Subcontinent? The persistence of the anticyclones over the Indian ocean and the Indian subcontinent is not an unusual phenomenon. During the pre-monsoon season, the upper-level Indian Easterly Jet (IEJ) at around the 10 degrees N latitude and a strong westerly jet at around 30 degrees N can together generate an anticyclonic pattern.

How Anticyclones Impacts the Weather Conditions of the Indian Subcontinent? During the pre-monsoon season, a strong anticyclone can bring dry and hot weather over many parts of India. The heat wave season this year is the combination of three factors - persistence of anticyclones, the waning phase of El Niño and global warming.

 How India Deals with these Heat Wave Situations? India is part of the so-called ‘Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Predictions’ project of the World Climate Research Program under the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). It takes a three-step approach called the ‘ready-set-go’ system. The ‘ready’ step provides a seasonal outlook and allows the NDMA to ready their disaster response systems. The ‘set’ step includes resource allocations by identifying potential hotspots. The ‘go’ step means managing a disaster, including rescue efforts, hydration centres, heat shelters, etc.