Hyderabad: 'Tauktae' is the first cyclonic storm to hit the Indian coast in 2021. The name 'Tauktae' was given by Myanmar. In Burmese, it means gecko (small lizard). Tauktae, the gecko, makes a loud sound and can see in the dark.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had last year released a list of 169 probable names for cyclones in which 'Tauktae' stood fourth.
There are more than 1,500 species of geckos on this planet, each having its own typical sound, through which members of a particular species communicate with each other. Most geckos sound similar to birds. The gecko Tauktae is known for making a loud sound to attract mates. Some even hiss when scared.
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Not all geckos have eyelashes. Those that do not have eyelashes are gifted with a thin membrane called the cornea. Like other lizards, geckos shed their tail in self-defence, a process known as autotomy. Geckos can see 350 times clearer than humans. Needless to say, they have a powerful night vision. They see colours sharper than humans. Some species of geckos are sensitive to ultraviolet rays and heat.
Why cyclones are given names?
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) member nations -- Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Srilanka and Thailand -- had decided to name cyclones that hit their countries. After every nation sent a list of names of their choice, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones prepared the final list. The cyclone 'Amphan' was named by Thailand in 2004.
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The first list of cyclones was prepared in 2004. It comprised 64 names and were by eight nations. 'Amphan' was the last name on the list. In 2018, five more nations were added to WMO/ESCAP -- Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Naming cyclones, instead of giving them a number with technical specifications, helps common citizens, scientists, media and disaster managers remember them better. It helps in communication and disaster preparedness and avoids confusion in regions that experience several cyclones. According to WMO, initially, the cyclones were named arbitrarily. The practice of giving names to cyclones began in the middle of the 20th Century.
Now, the final list of names is prepared after the member nations submit their names.
