Explore Our Affordable Courses

Click Here

Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine

Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine

India faces growing challenges from severe monsoon flooding and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced forecasting and early warning systems.

Climate Hazards in India

  • Monsoon Impact: Recent monsoons have caused recurrent flooding across many states, including Assam, Bihar, Odisha, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
  • Alternating Hazards:  A study by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) highlights that approximately 40% of India’s districts face alternating climatic challenges. 
  • Rainfall Trends: An analysis of 40 years of rainfall data by CEEW shows that there has been an increase of up to 64% in heavy rainfall days during the monsoons over the last decade.
  • Flood Exposure: Two-thirds of India’s population is exposed to flood risks.       

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes               

Current Gaps in Weather Forecasting

  • Despite two-thirds of India’s population being exposed to flood risks, only a third of the flood-prone population is covered by early warning systems. 
  • This stands in stark contrast to cyclone-prone areas, which are fully covered by cyclone early warning systems.

Mission Mausam

  • Mission Overview: Launched in 2024, ‘Mission Mausam’ aims to enhance India’s weather observation, improve forecasting models, and explore weather modification techniques.
  • Implementation: Implemented by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), with a budget of ₹2,000 crore.
  • Focus: The initiative focuses on expanding weather observation networks, integrating machine-learning and data-driven approaches, and developing models for atmospheric analysis and weather modification.

Priorities for Mission Mausam

  • Expanding Weather Observation Networks
    • India currently has 39 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), but critical areas such as the western coast and major cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Jodhpur remain uncovered.
    • The increasing frequency of cyclones in the Arabian Sea highlights the need for more radars along the west coast.
    • Expanding radar coverage in urban centres prone to frequent flooding is crucial for better preparedness.
  •  Open Access to Weather Data
    • Countries like the U.S., U.K., and France provide open access to weather data, allowing for the development of new technologies and localised tools.
    • IMD offers limited data through its portal, with restrictions on access for academic and research purposes.
    • Recommendations:
      • Establish infrastructure for the open distribution of weather data.
      • ‘Mission Mausam’ should make data from radars, wind profilers, and radiometers publicly available to encourage innovation in early warning systems.
  • Enhancing Communication Tools
    • IMD shares weather information via web and mobile apps, providing district-wise warnings from hourly to four-day forecasts.
    • Recommendations:
      • Enhancing User Experience: Tools need improvement to help users better understand and act on warnings, especially for reaching the last mile.
      • Capacity Building: ‘Mission Mausam’ should focus on educating users with videos, media guides, and more intuitive applications to enhance preparedness.
      • Better Policy and Infrastructure: For regions like Assam, which face annual floods, improved policies and infrastructure are essential to ensure better preparedness.

Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store

Conclusion

Mission Mausam is a crucial initiative for enhancing India’s climate resilience and preparedness for extreme weather events, enabling the country to better mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Mains Practice:

Q. Examine the current gaps in India’s weather observation network. How can addressing these gaps improve the effectiveness of early warning systems for extreme weather? (10M, 150 words)

To get PDF version, Please click on "Print PDF" button.

/*
*/

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   Srijan 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims2025 Test Series.    IDMP – Self Study Program 2025.

 

THE MOST
LEARNING PLATFORM

Learn From India's Best Faculty

      

Download October 2024 Current Affairs.   Srijan 2025 Program (Prelims+Mains) !     Current Affairs Plus By Sumit Sir   UPSC Prelims2025 Test Series.    IDMP – Self Study Program 2025.

 

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">







    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.