Recently the India Meteorological Department (IMD) a list of 169 names of future tropical cyclones that would emerge in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
How are tropical cyclones named ?
- Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
- There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
- As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure.
- The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.
When was the naming of cyclones started?
- In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
- After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalized the list.
The naming of cyclones over North Indian Ocean
- The names of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea are decided by eight countries.
- Each of them lists out eight names which are approved by the weathermen of these countries. So each time the list has 64 names. The countries take turns to name the cyclones.
- The first cyclone named by India was Agni, in 2004, and the last one was Vayu in 2019
- The 13 names in the recent list that have been suggested by India include Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar (pronounced Jhor), Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega.
- The countries that get to name the cyclones are India, Pakistan, Oman, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand
Most recent cyclones and their names
- CycloneNisarga- The name was suggested by Bangladesh
- Cyclone Amphan– The name was given by Thailand.
