Naming of cyclones in North Indian Ocean by India and other SAARC countries and Oman and Thailand began 10 years ago for easy reference, documentation and research.
The latest storm Hudhud is named by Oman after Arabic word, Hoopoe, a blue-crested bird found in Afro Eurasia known for its beautiful crest of feathers. The next is named by Pakistan as Nilofer. Phailin was named by Thailand after the word, sapphire.
“Naming of storms is done for effective forecasting and getting it circulated through mass media. It is also useful for academic research,” Dr. V.S.N. Murthy, Scientist in-charge of National Institute of Oceanography, Visakhapatnam Regional Centre, told The Hindu on Thursday.
Naming of cyclones is done by turns in the following sequence after Nilofer by Pakistan: Priya (Sri Lanka), Komen (Thailand), Chapala (Bangladesh), Megh (India), Roanu (Maldives), Kyant (Myanmer), Nada (Oman) and Asiri (Sri Lanka). International committee of World Meteorological Organisation and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific play a key role in cyclone naming
