Central Idea: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a developing cyclonic or low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. It would be named Cyclone Mocha (pronounced ‘Mokha’).

What is a cyclone and how are they formed?

• A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.
• Warm seas present ripe conditions for the development and strengthening of cyclones.
• The air rises and blows in an anticlockwise direction around the low in the northern hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
• As warm air rises and cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and this can lead to rains.
• Cyclones can cause significant impacts on life and property, including storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lightning.

Requirements for a Cyclone to form

There are six main requirements for tropical cyclogenesis:

1. Sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures
2. Atmospheric instability
3. High humidity in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere
4. Enough Coriolis force to develop a low-pressure centre
5. A pre-existing low-level focus or disturbance
6. Low vertical wind shear

How are cyclones named?

• Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialized meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
• The IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean after following a standard procedure.
• In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
• After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalized the list.
• This cyclone will be named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

Why is it important to name cyclones?

• Adopting names for cyclones makes it easier for people to remember, as opposed to numbers and technical terms.
• It’s easier and less confusing to say “Cyclone Titli” than remember the storm’s number or its longitude and latitude.
• Apart from the general public, it also helps the scientific community, the media, disaster managers etc.
• With a name, it is also easy to identify individual cyclones, create awareness of its development, rapidly disseminate warnings to increase community preparedness etc.

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