The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a comprehensive list of 169 potential tropical cyclones anticipated to develop in the north Indian Ocean, encompassing both the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Adopted by WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) through unanimous consensus in April 2020, this list is inclusive of 13 names from each of the 13 WMO/ESCAP member nations, totaling 169 names.
Key Role of IMD in Cyclone Management
IMD, as one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMC) globally, holds a critical responsibility of issuing advisories and naming tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region. These advisories cater to 13 member countries under the WMO/ESCAP Panel, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Importance of Naming Tropical Cyclones
Assigning names to tropical cyclones serves several important functions. It helps identify each individual cyclone, raises awareness of its development, and eliminates potential confusion if multiple cyclones occur simultaneously in a region. Named cyclones are also easier to recall and allow for more prompt and effective dissemination of warnings to a broad audience.
Pioneering the Practice of Cyclone Naming
The ground-breaking decision to assign names to the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea was taken at the 27th Session of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) in 2000 held in Muscat, Oman. The practice began in September 2004 with names proposed by eight member countries. A fresh list of names, incorporating five new member countries, was put forth during the 45th session of WMO/ESCAP in September 2018, hosted by Oman.
The Role of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones
Constituted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 1972, the Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) operates as an intergovernmental body. It consists of countries affected by tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The primary objective of the panel is promoting measures to enhance tropical cyclone warning systems in these regions.
Understanding Tropical Cyclones
A tropical cyclone is a powerful circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans. Characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rainfall, they feature a central ‘eye’ region with clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure. These storms are known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean, typhoons in Southeast Asia and China, and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean region and the southwest Pacific. They form near the equator and derive their energy from the heat released when water vapor condenses into rain. Rotational direction is clockwise in the southern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere.
