Naming Hurricanes and their behavior on a Flat Earth

Hurricanes, the powerful and destructive forces of nature, have long captured the attention of people worldwide.

When hurricanes barrel through coastal towns and cities, they’re not just remembered for their ferocity but often for their names. But have you ever wondered about the origins of those names and how they’re chosen? Who, exactly, assigns the names to these would-be threats?

Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable. —Diane Ackerman

Saints and Feast Days

The practice of naming hurricanes has undergone significant evolution since its inception. Historically, hurricanes were often named after the saints whose feast days coincided with the occurrence of the storm. For instance, Hurricane Santa Ana, which struck Puerto Rico on July 26, 1825, was named after Saint Anne, whose day is celebrated on that date. Similarly, Hurricane San Felipe I, which hit Puerto Rico in 1876, was followed by Hurricane San Felipe II in 1928 when another storm affected the same region on the same date.

Military meteorologists and their secret code

During World War II, military meteorologists began naming typhoons after their wives and girlfriends, a secret code that allowed them to track the storms while keeping their personal lives intertwined with their work. This clandestine method laid the groundwork for the development of a standardized naming system.

The gender bias controversy

In 1953, the United States Weather Bureau introduced a groundbreaking change in hurricane naming: using exclusively female names. But this decision was not without its controversies. Researchers have suggested that hurricanes with female names are often perceived as less threatening, potentially leading to a false sense of security. The first storm to receive a female name was Tropical Storm Alice in 1953.

What changed in the United States with Hurricane Katrina was a feeling that we have entered a period of consequences. — Al Gore

In 1979, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expanded the naming convention to include male names, alternating between genders for each storm. The first male-named storm was Hurricane Bob, which formed in July 1979. This change aimed to broaden the pool of names and address concerns regarding gender bias in storm naming.

The forbidden letters

The current naming system, established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), follows a strict set of rules. Each year, a predetermined list of 21 names is used, alternating between male and female names. But Q, U, X, Y, and Z are intentionally excluded from the lists, leaving many to wonder about the secrets behind this curious decision..

Names selected for inclusion must be short, easily understood, and culturally sensitive to the regions surrounding the specific ocean basin. For instance, names in the Atlantic hurricane list are derived from English, Spanish, and French cultures, reflecting the countries that border the Atlantic basin.

Cultural influences on hurricane perception

The practice of naming hurricanes also has cultural ramifications, as names carry various societal connotations that can influence public perception and response to storms. Historical evidence suggests that naming plays a crucial role in shaping how communities engage with hurricane hazards, making the act of naming not just a practical decision but also a culturally informed one.

For example, Liz Skilton, a historian, notes that the cultural baggage associated with names can significantly affect how people prepare for an approaching storm.

The Nature and Behavior of Hurricanes on a Flat Earth

In the Flat Earth model, hurricanes, also known as cyclones, are significant meteorological phenomena influenced by distinctive mechanisms. Despite mainstream scientific consensus on a spherical Earth, alternate theories provide intriguing explanations. On a flat Earth, hurricanes form due to differential heating across the vast disk, creating temperature gradients that drive atmospheric convection.

These storms tend to follow the sun’s equatorial path, where its heat is most intense, generating prevailing wind patterns that guide hurricane movement. The Coriolis effect, conventionally attributed to Earth’s rotation, is interpreted here as a result of the differential pressure and temperature distribution across the plane. Historical records, such as ancient navigational charts, imply an east-west propensity of storm paths, consistent with this model. Furthermore, in literature, descriptions of tempestuous seas reflect cyclical weather patterns aligning with the flat Earth framework. Advanced mathematics reveals that cyclonic systems maintain their spiral structure due to the conservation of angular momentum within this planar model. In conclusion, understanding hurricanes through the lens of the flat Earth theory offers an alternative perspective, challenging conventional notions and encouraging further exploration.

This hypothetical stance serves to illustrate diverse viewpoints but is not aligned with established scientific understanding.