Context: Recently, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) has approved the new list of names of tropical cyclones over north Indian Ocean.

Key Points

• The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) at its 45th Session held at Muscat, Oman in September, 2018 had decided to prepare a fresh list of names of tropical cyclones including representation from five new member countries, viz., Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

• Dr.Mrutyunjay Mohapatra of India Meteorological Department (IMD) acted as Rapporteur to co-ordinate among the Panel member countries and to finalise the list of names following the standard procedure and suggest the implementation plan.

• The report of the rapporteur was initially presented by India during 46th Session of WMO/ESCAP PTC held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in September 2019.

• The report was finally adopted by WMO/ESCAP PTC with consensus in April, 2020.

The following criteria were adopted for selection of names by the PTC member countries:

• The proposed name should be neutral to politics and political figures, religious believes, cultures and gender.

• The name should be chosen in such a way that it does not hurt the sentiments of any group of population over the globe.

• 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 alongwith its pronunciation and voice over.

• The Panel reserves the right to reject any name, if any of the criteria above is not satisfied.

• The finalised names may also be reviewed during the course of time of implementation with the approval of PTC in its annual session, in case any reasonable objection is raised by any member.

• 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. It should not be there in the already existing list of any of the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) worldwide including RSMC, New Delhi.

• RSMC, New Delhi will be responsible to name tropical cyclones forming over the North Indian Ocean including Bay of Bengal & the Arabian Sea.

• The name of a tropical cyclone from South China Sea which crosses Thailand and emerge into the Bay of Bengal as a tropical cyclone will not be changed.

• India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under WMO/ESCAP Panel including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

• India has provided 13 new names of tropical cyclones: Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar, Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega.

About Tropical Cyclone

• Tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.
• A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the eye, a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.
• Storms of this type are called hurricanes in the North Atlantic and eastern Pacific and typhoons in SouthEast Asia and China. They are called tropical cyclones in the southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean region.
• Formation: Tropical cyclones form near the equator and gain their energy from the heat that is released when water vapour condenses into rain.
• In the southern hemisphere storms rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.

About Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

• It is the National Meteorological Service of the country which was established in 1875.

• It is under Ministry of Earth Sciences.

• It is the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology, seismology and allied subjects.

Its Mandate

• Undertake meteorological observations and provide current information and forecasting information for most favorable operation of weather-dependent activities such as irrigation, agriculture, aviation, shipping etc.
• Offer warning against severe weather phenomenon such as tropical cyclones, norwesters, dust storms, heat waves, cold waves, heavy rains, heavy snow, etc.
• Provide met-related statistics needed for agriculture, industries, water resources management, oil exploration, and any other strategically important activities for the country.
• Engage in research in meteorology and allied subjects.
• Detect and locate earthquakes and evaluate of seismicity in various parts of the country for developmental projects.