Introduction

Although tropical cyclones as a natural phenomenon maintain balance in the cycle of nature, they pose a threat to human civilization in coastal areas. Forming over warm tropical oceans, tropical cyclones have strong winds of at least 64 knots (74 meters per hour). Producing violent winds and torrential rains, these cyclones can cause enormous damage and huge loss of life in coastal areas. In view of this, in 1972, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) jointly established an intergovernmental regional body, associated with the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP). The first session of WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1973, and the 49th session will be held virtually on June 27-30.

The main objective of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones is to promote measures to improve tropical cyclone warning systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, including dissemination of technical information on tropical cyclones research and forecasting operations to mitigate   the   socio-economic   impacts   of   tropical   cyclone-related   disasters.

The southern coast of Iran along the Oman Sea is affected by tropical cyclones. Meanwhile, tropical cyclones have the capability to generate very large and high waves. In recent years, as the sea surface temperature rises with global warming, there is an increase in the frequency and intensity of these cyclones.  This increase is seen in the Arabian and Oman seas, and with the formation of cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean and the arrival of tropical cyclones in the Oman Sea region, long waves occur along the coastlines of Iran.

In order to synergize and exchange experiences in the field of monitoring and forecasting tropical cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean region and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tropical Cyclones Panel (TCP), the Islamic Republic of Iran proposes to hold the First International Scientific Conference on Monitoring and Forecasting Tropical Storm this year.