Tropical cyclones

A storm surge is an abnormal rise of sea level produced mainly by the strong onshore winds and low atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone. It can flood low-lying coastal areas, contaminate freshwater, damage buildings, and cause severe loss of life. Therefore, option A is correct.

A tropical cyclone creates several hazards at the same time. Intense rainfall can cause inland and urban flooding, strong winds can damage buildings, power lines, and vegetation, and storm surge can inundate coastal settlements. Together these hazards threaten infrastructure, crops, livelihoods, and human life. Therefore, option A is the broadest risk.

The governing disaster-risk concept is that damage depends on more than the physical intensity of a hazard. Exposure determines how many people, buildings and livelihoods lie in the cyclone’s path, while vulnerability reflects the strength of structures, poverty, health, location and access to services. Preparedness includes reliable warnings, evacuation routes, shelters, drills and emergency response. A well-prepared region with cyclone-resistant buildings may suffer fewer deaths and less economic loss than a region with weak housing and poor warning access, even when wind speed is similar. Hence option A is correct. Cyclones do have impacts, population need not be equal, and latitude alone cannot explain differences in damage.