What’s in a NAME that most of the time causes enormous destruction to nature, damage/loss of properties and displacements and deaths to people around the world? We often associate this NAME with storm, hurricane, cyclone, or typhoon. They may be called different NAMES in different parts of the world, but they can generate extremely powerful energy that can bring about great impacts. According to some observations, their strength can be compared to 10 times or more much energy as the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
In the local dialect of the Filipinos, this is referred to as “BAGYO”. Still wondering what is the difference of these NAMES (storm, hurricane, cyclone, typhoon)? Well, they are one and the same. They all refer to storms. They are just unique terms associated with different regions in the world.
- HURRICANE is used in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Central and Northeast Pacific Ocean.
- TYPHOON is used in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, which is the most active basin and has the highest number of storms in a year. The Philippines is located in this area.
- It is known simply as CYCLONE in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabic Sea.
- TROPICAL CYCLONE is used in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
- It is called SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE in the Southeastern Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific.
A storm gets a NAME and is considered a tropical storm at 39 mph (63 kph). The storm assumes a different name depending on its location; usually those names that are familiar in each region. The Philippines has its own naming system, so Typhoon Haiyan is called Yolanda. Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) are given a local name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which also raises public storm signal warnings as deemed necessary.
References: World Meteorological Organization, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Weather Underground, Wikipedia, PAG-ASA
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