“Cyclone Tauktae” expected to hit Gujarat

What is the News?

Cyclone Tauktae (pronounced Tau-Te) is expected to hit southern Gujarat of the country.

About Cyclone Tauktae:

• Cyclone ‘Tauktae‘ name was suggested by Myanmar. Tauktae means a highly vocal lizard gecko.
• This cyclone has been classified as a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS).
• The Cyclone has been developed in the Arabian Sea.

Why is Cyclone Tauktae unique?

• Cyclone Tauktae will be the first cyclonic storm along the Indian coast in the year 2021.
• This will also be the fourth cyclone in consecutive years to have developed in the Arabian Sea, that too in the pre-monsoon period (April to June).
  • All these cyclones since 2018 have been categorised as either ‘Severe Cyclone’ or above.

How are cyclones named?

• Cyclones are officially named by one of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) warning centres based across the globe.

Naming cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea:

• The WMO/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) names the cyclones for this region since 2000.
• The panel includes 13 countries –– India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
• Each country sent in suggestions to the WMO/ESCAP Panel. After this, the panel finalizes the list alphabetically country-wise starting with Bangladesh followed by India, Iran, Maldives and so on.

Significance of Naming of a cyclone:

• Firstly, it helps in the quick identification of storms in warning messages
• Secondly, names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms.
• Thirdly, giving names to cyclones makes it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones,
• Fourthly, it heightens interest in warnings and increases community preparedness

Source: Indian Express

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