How Cyclone 'Mocha' got its name | All you need to know
Cyclone Mocha: Cyclones, also known as hurricanes or typhoons, are powerful storms that form over warm ocean waters. They are characterised by a low-pressure centre, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. Currently, Cyclone Mocha has been hitting the headlines. It is the latest tropical storm that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday also issued a warning that Cyclonic storm Mocha would be intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight of Thursday. On Wednesday, the IMD predicted that the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards and is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm over the same region. How the cyclones get their names? Weather forecasters give each tropical cyclone a name to avoid confusion, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. In general, tropical cyclones are named according to the rules at regional level. Cyclones are named using a standardised naming system to avoid confusion and help with communication. There are different naming systems used by different parts of the world.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains a list of names for cyclones that are used in different ocean basins. For example, in the North Atlantic, hurricanes are given names from a predetermined list that rotates every six years. Each name on the list starts with a different letter of the alphabet. If a hurricane is particularly deadly or costly, its name may be retired and replaced with a new name.
Other regions use different naming systems. In the eastern North Pacific and the western North Pacific, tropical storms are named from a list of names that are assigned in alphabetical order. In the Indian Ocean, cyclones are named by the meteorological departments of countries in the region.
Naming of Cyclone Mocha
Cyclone Mocha, for example, is one of the names proposed by Yemen, based on a small fishing village in the country known for its coffee production. The current list of names includes contributions from Bangladesh, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The next name in line is "Biparjoy" suggested by Bangladesh.
- With inputs from agencies
