|
|
|
| Sunday, 9 October 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Naming of
hurricanes
by J. K. Wijedasa The recent devastation caused by Katrina and Rita probably has given the wrong notion that only feminine names are used to identify hurricanes. Category V Hurricanes have wind speeds of over 250km/hour. Katrina generated highest speed of 280km/hour. The strongest wind speed of 320km/hour was recorded by the Labour Day Hurricane of 1935. It was an Australian forecaster who first used names of unpopular and corrupt politicians to identify storms (Sri Lanka can provide an unending list of names). Then during the Second World War US Army Air Corps and Navy Meteorologists used names of their wives and girlfriends to name storms. Then in 1950-52 North Atlantic storms were named according to phonetic alphabet. In 1953 for the first time US Weather Bureau commenced the use of feminine names. Then the feminist movement in the sixties and seventies protested against this practice. In 1979 the World Meteorological Organisation and US National Weather Service started using masculine and feminine names alternatively. Names are selected by the countries in a given region well in advance. Usually for a period of five years. The first Atlantic storm of 2005 was Arlene and the last will be Wilma. After Katrina there were Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philipe and Rita. The list continues after Rita - Stan, Tamy, Vince and Wilma. Year 2006 list will be from Alberto to William. If the names run out the Greek alphabet will be used. If any storm is violent and causes extensive damage, the name is retired from the list for ever. Among such names retired are Camille (1969), Allen (1980), Gilbert (1988), Hugo (1989) and Andrew (1992). Katrina will of course be retired from the list. Asian region typhoons are named after flowers, animals, birds, trees etc. Typhoon Damery (elephant in Khmer language) and Longwang (Dragon King in Chinese) wreaked havoc in the last few weeks. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
