Q.The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate.

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How Are Tropical Cyclones Named Globally?

Tropical cyclones are named by Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). These bodies use pre-established lists of names contributed by member nations within specific ocean basins. The names are used sequentially and are rotated or retired based on regional rules.

Naming Systems in Different Regions

• North Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific Oceans:
  • The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the USA manages these lists. It uses six rotating alphabetical lists of alternating male and female names.
  • Example: If a storm is exceptionally destructive, its name is retired to avoid confusion and out of respect for victims (e.g., Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Irma in 2017).
• Western North Pacific and South China Sea:
  • The naming is managed by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) in collaboration with the WMO Typhoon Committee. Names are contributed by 14 regional nations and represent animals, flowers, or personal names rather than alphabetical order.
  • Example: Typhoon Haiyan (2013), which caused catastrophic damage in the Philippines, was named from this list.
• North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea):
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) acts as the RSMC for this region. It coordinates with 13 member countries (including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, and Thailand) to maintain a rotating list of names.
  • Example: Phailin (2013) was suggested by Thailand (meaning 'sapphire'), while Fani (2019) was contributed by Bangladesh.
• South-West Indian Ocean:
  • Managed by the meteorological services of Mauritius and Madagascar, using alphabetical lists contributed by member nations in the region.
  • Example: Cyclone Idai (2019), which devastated Mozambique, was named under this system.
• Australian Region (Southern Hemisphere):
  • The Australian Bureau of Meteorology manages cyclone names using a single alphabetical list that alternates between male and female names.
  • Example: Cyclone Debbie (2017) was a severe storm named under this protocol.
• South Pacific Ocean:
  • The Fiji Meteorological Service and New Zealand MetService jointly manage names using a regional list.
  • Example: Cyclone Winston (2016), one of the most powerful storms in the Southern Hemisphere, was named from this list.

Process of Naming in the North Indian Ocean

• Member Contributions: The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones comprises member nations that submit lists of names. The names must be culturally neutral, non-offensive, easy to pronounce, and limited to eight letters.
• Rotation of Names: Names are used sequentially down the list. Once a name is used, it is not repeated. Unlike the Atlantic, names in the North Indian Ocean are not recycled; once the list is exhausted, a new list is adopted.
  • Example: Following this sequential order, Phailin (2013) and Amphan (2020) were both named from the regional list.