How do hurricanes get their beautiful feminine names?

9/20/2017

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Science Story: How do hurricanes get their beautiful feminine names?

Annually hundreds of tropical cyclones, tornado cyclones, hurricanes and sandstorms appear on Earth. We obtain disturbing messages about disasters all over the planet from the TV or radio. Have you noticed those destructive creatures always have feminine names? It may seem quite absurd, that is why we decided to clarify the matter for our dear readers!

Hurricanes are supposed to be given names in order to not to mix them up while there are lots of them destructing the planet simultaneously. Misunderstanding in forecasts can be fatal. Before the naming system appeared hurricanes used to get their names accidentally. Sometimes a hurricane was named in honor of a saint in whose day the misfortune occurred.

Science Story: Hurricanes are supposed to be given names in order to not to mix them up while there are lots of them destructing the planet simultaneously. Misunderstanding in forecasts can be fatal. Before the naming system appeared hurricanes used to get their names accidentally. Sometimes a hurricane was named in honor of a saint in whose day the misfortune occurred. — shutterstock

Thus, the hurricane which stroke Puerto Rico on July 26 was named "Santa Ana". The name could be also given according to the region a hurricane occurred in.

During World War Two air-force and naval meteorologists of the USA were monitoring tropical cyclones from North-West part of the Pacific ocean.

Science Story: During World War Two air-force and naval meteorologists of the USA were monitoring tropical cyclones from North-West part of the Pacific ocean. — shutterstock

Military meteorologists named the tropical cyclones with names after wives and mothers-in-law to avoid mess. After the War meteorology division created a list of simple feminine names for hurricanes.

By 1950 the first naming system appeared. At first in was based on the military alphabet, but in 1953 it was decided to get back to feminine names. Eventually, the system was used for different types of cyclones.

Science Story: By 1950 the first naming system appeared. At first in was based on the military alphabet, but in 1953 it was decided to get back to feminine names. Eventually, the system was used for different types of cyclones. — shutterstock

Further, a need of systematizing the process of giving names emerged. The first disaster in a year ought to have been named with a feminine name started with the first letter of the alphabet, the second disaster - the second letter and so on. Only simple and easy spelled names were used for the purpose. There was a list of 84 selected feminine names. In 1979 World Meteorological Organisation and National Meteorological Service of the USA included male names into the list.

In case the cyclon is horribly destructive, its name is removed from the list never to be used again. For example, the name KATRINA is not supposed to be repeated again.

Science Story: In case the cyclon is horribly destructive, its name is removed from the list never to be used again. For example, the name KATRINA is not supposed to be repeated again. — pexels

In the north-west part of the Pacific ocean tropical cyclones can be called by names of animals, flowers, trees and even some types of food. Japanese people refused to use feminine names for hurricanes as they believe women to be kind and gentle. Indian cyclones usually have no name at all.

Hurricanes from the space:

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

34 Comments

Diane Ray

Way behind the times! Its been years since masculine names were added. Have you not heard about Hurricane Harvey?

Cathie Roth Lonnquist

I'm glad you put 1 sentence in your presentation about male names being used starting in 1979 because we already have had 2 male named hurricanes this past week. I really didn't see any point to this presentation. It doesn't contain any information I want or need to know.

Cindy Ursan

I think it’s because “I am WOMAN, hear me roar”…!

Anthonypillai Jesuthasan

Disasters are said to be given feminine names - due to the sayings 1. "Female of the species are deadlier than the male and 2. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned." etc.

Barry Levine

Masculine names were added in 1973 or 74. The task was given to a gentleman who was a friend of my wife and I. My wife's name is Hermine which is why there was a storm of that name in 2010 and then in 2017. The gentleman who named the storm was also interviewed in Playboy about the gender change.

Ian Swindale

I am sure male names are used as well - alternating between female and male names

Marion Baxter

Both masculine and feminine names are used and both in hurricanes are destructive!

Ian Swindale

This isn't correct as there are hurricanes that alternate between feminine and masculine names

Alicia Szot

Alan D. Suddeth, Is there a reason for your need to "yell"? If you notice, no one else is screaming.

Thomas Marshall

🔱. Good Info

Robert Jones

I thought it was from the "hur" ("her").If you called them hisacains you would give them masculine names.....no sh*t.

Ronald Verhoeckx

The name in our culture has been addressed as Mother Earth. So female names seem appropriate.

Carl Rosignol

Always wondered

RainingStars

Joan Schmidt, the article did mention that in 1979, the "World Meteorological Organisation" and "National Meteorological Service of the USA" began including Male names on the list. So, they are, and have been, using Male names, like "Andrew", "Harvey", "Jose", "David" "Felix" and many others, since 1979 ⛈ 🌫🌪

Greta Fridlund

Hurricane Andrew was terribly destructive last century in Florida. Why are you so behind the times in this presentation? It makes all your other information seem doubtful.

Joan Schmidt

Then again perhaps we could explain this correctly. The current mode is to use masculine names as well as feminine names. Too bad the person doing this didn't bother to find out what is current and what is out-dated.

Elsa Clarke Alyward

old news!

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