Southwest Indian Ocean naming conventions

[Calasanjy]

Searching back through the seasons since 1959-1960, when tropical cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean basin were first named, there have been several evolutions in the naming convention. During the 1960s, the names used were primarily English names (i.e. Lucy, Maud, Giselle, Daphne, Annie), which in my opinion seems out of place in a basin whose inhabitants primarily speak Malagasy, French, Swahili, or other indigenous African tongues. Starting with the 1969-1970 season and going through the 1981-1982 season, the regional warning centers incorporated strongly French names into the name lists (i.e. Iphigenie, Honorine, Gervase, Danae, Eglantine, Benedicte), which seems more appropriate considering the ethnic makeup of the SWIO island nations, but not tailored to the African peoples affected by the cyclones. For the 1982-1983 cyclone season, responsibility was apparently given to the Malagasy (Madagascar) Meteorology Department, which held responsibility through the 1989-1990 season and bestowed largely Malagasy names upon developing storms (i.e. Bakoly, Kamisy, Helisaonina, Honorinina, Doaza, Alibera). This process definitely seems the most appropriate to this point, considering the high vulnerability of the Malagasy coastline in comparison to the other landmasses in the basin. However, it still disregards the indigenous mainland African languages and the French composition of the islands. In the 1990-1991 season, and continuing through the 2001-2002 season, the regional members of the RA-I cyclone committee alternated naming responsibility, with French, English, and a few Malagasy and African names appearing in the namelists. While this seems like a more "democratic" process, it places too much naming authority on the region's French and English influences. For the 2002-2003 season, the procedure once again changed to include name contributions from each nation in the basin. Although this incorporates diverse names into each year's list, it still provides clout for the islands and certain inland African nations disproportionate to their vulnerability to cyclones.

Climatologically, Madagascar will receive a cyclone almost every season. The islands of Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodriguez may be adversely affected by a cyclone approximately every three years, but it is rare for a storm to make a direct landfall on one of these islands. Mainland Africa is likely to receive a cyclone every other year. Shouldn't the naming scheme in this region reflect the vulnerability of the countries??? In October, the Cyclone Committee (RA-I) will meet in Malawi for their biannual session and draft namelists for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 cyclone seasons. Personally, I think that these lists should include a greater proportion of Malagasy names, a somewhat less number of mainland African names, and a few but significantly less French and English monikers. While "local naming" wouldn't reduce the intensity or frequency of the storms, it may increase awareness amongst the local populations of these regions. Personally, if I were given the responsibility to draft the namelists for the Southwest Indian Ocean, the guidelines would include:

Language proportions (to reflect population vulnerability):

- 70 percent Malagasy
- 20 percent mainland African tongues (i.e. Swahili, Zulu, etc.)
- 5 percent French
- 5 percent English

Specific guidelines:

- Both personal names and words could be utilized
- Storm names should not exceed twelve characters in length
- Pronunciation guides should be provided alongside the namelists
- The names used must not also be used for any prominent towns/cities, water bodies, or geographic features across the basin, to avoid confusion in regard to storm location
- Each letter of the alphabet should be used (A-Z), except the lists should start with a different letter each year (i.e. if the 2008-2009 list began with an "A" name, then the 2009-2010 list may begin with an "L" name, to ensure that each letter is used)

I will post further thoughts on this topic at a later time. Anyone have any other ideas on this subject???

[Chacor]

Why not do something like PAGASA does in the NW Pacific? Have a main list (i.e. retain the way it is currently, each nation submitting names), but maybe give overall naming responsibility to Meteo France. Then Madagascar or Mauritius can choose to give local names to storms that they think will affect them, or that enter a certain area?

[Aslkahuna]

Actually, it's NOT PAGASA that does the naming of WPAC storms but the RSMC in Tokyo. PAGASA has it's own name lists for storms that enter their AOR. These names are all Filipino in origin and selected from names submitted by the people of the Philippines.

Steve

[Chacor]

Actually, it's NOT PAGASA that does the naming of WPAC storms but the RSMC in Tokyo. PAGASA has it's own name lists for storms that enter their AOR. These names are all Filipino in origin and selected from names submitted by the people of the Philippines.

Steve

Yes, I know. What I meant is that the SW Indian could adopt something similar, with Madagascar and Mauritius taking the role of PAGASA, and giving outright naming responsibility to Meteo France (which currently doesn't do any naming).

[Aslkahuna]

It would be a matter of establishing Local AORs for that to occur.

Steve