Cyclone Nivar

  • Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nivar is a cyclone in Bay of Bengal (North Indian Ocean).
  • The storm originated from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
  • After Cyclone Gaja in 2018, Nivar will be the second cyclone to cross Tamil Nadu in the last two years.
  • Northern districts of Tamil Nadu are expected to face the maximum hazard from the cyclone.
  • The name Nivar was proposed by Iran.
NAMING OF CYCLONES 
  • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). 
  • There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
  • As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure. 
  • The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.
  • In 2000, a group of 8 nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) decided to start naming cyclones in the region. 
  • A formula was agreed upon in 2004.
  • The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include five more countries in 2018 — Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
  • The list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD in April, were provided by these countries — 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries. 


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