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Contents
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
