JOIN USA cyclone that hit India and its neighbourhood between April 14 to 17 this year was called ‘Bijli’. The name was given by India.
Cyclones derive their names through a systematic procedure laid out by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
“It’s better to give an identity to the cyclones, as the main purpose of naming a cyclone is basically for the people to easily understand and remember it in a region and to facilitate tropical cyclone disaster risk awareness, preparedness, management and reduction,” D Chakraborthi, Additional Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.
Eight north Indian Ocean countries—Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand—have prepared a list of 64 names. When a hurricane hits these countries, the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre picks up the name next on the list. The RSMC was set up in Delhi by the WMO for forecasting tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. “The names selected are those that are familiar to the people in each region,” Chakraborthi said.
Since 2004, the eight countries have faced 19 cyclones. The countries take turns in naming the cyclones.
The practice of naming cyclones began as early as the 19th century in Australia where cyclones were named after corrupt politicians. It soon caught on in other countries, and met officials in some countries began naming cyclones after their former girlfriends or divorced wives. In the north Indian Ocean countries the naming of cyclones began in September 2004 following a meeting of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones in 2000.
How cyclone gets its name
*The name ‘Aila’ for the cyclone that battered West Bengal was given by Maldives
*The next cyclone to hit north Indian Ocean will be called ‘Phyan’, by Myanmar
*The cyclone that hit India and its neighbourhood in April this year was called
‘Bijli’, a name given by India
*Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand have
prepared a list of 64 names.
*Countries take turns in naming cyclones: Sidr (Oman), Nargis (Pakistan), Rashmi (Sri Lanka), Khai-Muk (Thailand), Nisha Bangladesh)
*The practice of naming cyclones started in the 19th century in Australia where they were named after corrupt politicians