An Indian laboratory that only studies clouds -Governance Now

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.

Read: Scientist Swati Basu tells how govt is improving weather, disaster forecasts

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.

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