The Philippines is no stranger to natural calamities, but the power of Typhoon Rai (locally named Odette), which hit parts of the country in mid-December, proved to be particularly devastating. As of late December, the official death toll from the typhoon had been raised to 388, making it one of the deadliest storms of 2021. This tragic event provides an opportunity to understand the science behind such severe weather phenomena and their global nomenclature.
Understanding Storms: Typhoons, Hurricanes, Tornados, Willy-Willies, and Tropical Cyclones
Storms are a common yet disconcerting occurrence all over the world, with their names changing based on the region they happen. Typically, these storms may be called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, with minor variations existing within each category.
Typhoons are typically experienced in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean, while the term ‘Hurricane’ is used to describe similar weather phenomena happening in the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. A storm is referred to as ‘Tornado’ in the Guinea lands of West Africa and the southern United States, while it is known as ‘Willy-willy’ in north-western Australia.
However, in the Indian Ocean Region, these storms are simply referred to as Tropical Cyclones. Interestingly, the scientific name for all these kinds of storms is tropical cyclones, indicating that despite regional terminology, the core nature of these weather phenomena remains the same.
The Nature of Tropical Cyclones
Formed over warm tropical oceans, Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that harbor wind speeds exceeding 119 kilometres per hour accompanied by heavy rains. The unique characteristic of these storms is that they rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. They carry extreme destructive potential with them, causing significant damage to life and property.
Naming of Typhoons
To maintain clarity and avoid confusion, each typhoon is assigned a unique name by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo – Typhoon Centre. The name ‘Rai,’ for instance, was contributed by Micronesia, referring to the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines in December 2021. This naming convention helps in tracking storm activities and effectively communicating warnings to affected or potentially affected regions.
In summary, the devastating impact of Typhoon Rai serves as a grim reminder of the power of tropical cyclones. While terminologies like typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, willy-willies, and cyclones may change across geographical boundaries, the potential for destruction they carry remains uniform. By understanding their nature and the science behind them, it is hoped that better disaster management strategies can be formulated and implemented, thereby mitigating their impact on human lives and infrastructure.