Model Question and Answers for APSC | The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are tropical cyclones named across the world?

Ans: Initially, cyclones were named haphazardly after boats, Catholic saints, and so on. Cyclones were given feminine names in the early 1900s, but male names were added in 1979. At the moment, cyclones are named in a systematic manner.

Process of naming tropical cyclones:

• If the speed of a cyclone is more than 34 nautical miles per hour then it becomes necessary to give it a special If the speed of the storm reaches or crosses 74 mph, it is then classified into a hurricane/cyclone/typhoon.
• The cyclones that are formed in any ocean basin around the world are named by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are a total of six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• ,The World  Meteorological  Organization  (WMO)  and  the  United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (ESCAP) have been naming cyclonic storms since 2000.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian It also issues advisories to 12 other nations in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.
• The list of 169 cyclone names is with IMD provided by these countries — 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries.

While picking names for cyclones, here are some of the rules that countries need to follow. If these guidelines are followed, the name is accepted by the panel on tropical cyclones (PTC) that finalises the selection:

• The proposed name should be neutral to:
  • politics and political figures
  • religious beliefs,
  • cultures and
  • gender
• The name should be chosen in such a way that it does not hurt the sentiments of any group of the population over the glob.
• It should not be very rude and cruel in nature.
• It should be short, easy to pronounce and should not be offensive to any member.
• The maximum length of the name will be eight letters
• The proposed name should be provided with its pronunciation and voice over
• The names of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean will not be repeated. Once used, it will cease to be used again. Thus, the name should be new.

Adopting names for cyclones makes it easier for people to remember, as opposed to numbers and technical terms. Apart from the general public, it also helps the scientific community, the media, disaster managers etc. With a name, it is easy to identify individual cyclones, create awareness of their development, rapidly disseminate warnings to increase community preparedness and remove confusion where there are multiple cyclonic systems over a region.