An Indian laboratory that only studies clouds

There is noticeable improvement in heavy rainfall forecasts

GN Bureau | March 16, 2017


#climate   #weather forecast   #rainfall   #High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory  


A High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory with a complete range of the observational system has been set-up at Mahabaleshwar to study the interaction of clouds with other environmental parameters through continuous observations inside the clouds at high altitude, the Lok Sabha was informed.
 
Union minister Harsh Vardhan said that as part of Atmosphere and Climate Research – Modelling, Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS), surface and upper air observational network and Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network has been augmented.
 
There is also better quality and high resolution digital data from INSAT-3D satellite and other satellites.
 
High Performance Computing System with 1.2 Petaflop speed has been established to meet the modelling requirements. This system is now the second fastest computing system in the country.
 
 
Under the National Monsoon Mission, a high resolution global deterministic weather prediction model has been commissioned.
 
Noteworthy improvement was made in track and intensity forecast of the tropical cyclones (24 hour forecast error in track prediction reduced from 141 km to 97 km and Landfall error from 99 km to 56 km during 2006 to 2015). Accurate forecasts of the recent cyclones, Phailin, HudHud and Vardah saved thousands of human lives.
 
Noticeable improvements achieved in skills of Heavy Rainfall Forecasts (False Alarm Rate reduced from 46% to 11% and Probability of Detection increased from 49% to 67% from 2002 to 2015).
 
For the first time in 2016, forecasts on different time scales during the hot weather season (April to May) including heat waves were issued by the India Meteorological Department.
 
Also, the Ocean State Forecast service has been extended for neighbouring countries, Seychelles and Sri Lanka for providing 3-day forecasts on winds, waves, currents, temperature.
 
As part of Polar and Cryosphere Research (PACER), a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH was established at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
 
India’s first multi-sensor moored sub-surface observatory (IndARC) at a water depth of ~180 m in the Arctic was deployed. India successfully commenced operations at the 3rd Indian Permanent Research Station Bharati, at Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.
 

Comments

 

Other News

Beyond toilets: Why open defecation persists in rural India

Despite the awareness campaigns on sanitation across India, open defecation (OD) is practised openly and widely in both rural and urban areas. Research shows that rural respondents are well aware of the negative impacts of OD, yet this awareness does not lead to toilet construction or use. In rural North I

What unpaid nation builders want from policymakers

The Supreme Court recently described homemakers as “nation builders” and fixed a notional monthly income of Rs 30,000 for them in motor accident compensation cases. The judgment was not about wages. It was about compensation. Yet it inadvertently raised a larger economic question: If a homemake

What the US–Iran peace deal means for India

After months of rising tensions, the United States and Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding called the "Islamabad Agreement." This agreement allows for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and provides Iran with relief from sanctions, depending on its complianc

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran  Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799  

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter