Cyclone / What is the meaning of 'Yaas', name given to the cyclone expected to hit east coast?

New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a cyclonic storm, to be named Yaas when it is formed, is likely to hit the eastern coast of India by May 26-27.

According to the IMD predictions, a low-pressure area is expected to be formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining the east-central Bay of Bengal by May 22 which is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to move northwestwards and hit the eastern coast near the Odisha-West Bengal border region by May 26-27. The IMD has predicted Cyclone Yaas is expected to be as severe as Cyclone Amphan, the storm which had hit Odisha and West Bengal in May 2020.

This is the second cyclone to hit India in the month of May after Cyclone Tauktae (named by Myanmar) formed over the Arabian Sea which hit the western coast on May 17 and caused massive damage in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The present cyclone Yaas has been named by Oman. Yaas refers to a tree that has a good fragrance and in English, the word is similar to Jasmine.

What is a tropical cyclone?

A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterised by low atmospheric pressure, strong winds followed by heavy rainfall. Tropical cyclones always have an eye, a central region of clear skies and warm temperatures.

Cyclones are fueled by available heat in the water bodies and the conducive temperature for the intensification of the cyclone is 28 degrees Celsius and above. The Bay of Bengal is usually warmer than the Arabian Sea, it results in more cyclones being formed over it.

Who gives the name to a cyclone?

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains rotating lists of names, which are appropriate for each tropical cyclone basin. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is retired and replaced by another.

Generally, the name list is proposed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) of the WMO members of a specific region and approved by the respective tropical cyclone regional bodies at their annual or biennial sessions.

Worldwide there are six regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming tropical cyclones.

The India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs mandated to provide tropical cyclone advisories to 13 member countries including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

RSMC, New Delhi is also mandated to name the Tropical Cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean (NIO) including the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS).

How does naming a cyclone help?

Naming a cyclone helps the scientific community, disaster managers, media, and general masses due to the following reasons.

Identify each individual cyclone.

Create awareness of its development.

Remove confusion in case of simultaneous occurrence of tropical cyclones over a region.

Rapidly and effectively disseminate warnings to a much wider audience.

Remember a tropical cyclone easily.

How is a name selected for cyclone?

The IMD has released a new set of names for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean. According to the IMD press release, during WMO’s 45th Session held at Muscat, Oman in September 2018 it was decided to prepare a fresh list of names of tropical cyclones including representation from five new member countries including Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The new list of tropical cyclone names was adopted by WMO/ESCAP Panel Member Countries in April 2020 for the naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The current list has a total of 169 names. The next in line is Cyclone Gulab, pronounced "Gul-aab" from Pakistan.

Last year, India had witnessed two cyclones by May, Amphan in the Bay of Bengal and Nisarga in the Arabian Sea. Amphan was from the previous list. From the fresh list, Bangladesh named the next cyclone Nisarga.