{"id":44531,"date":"2025-01-17T07:41:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T02:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=44531"},"modified":"2025-10-29T12:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T07:20:43","slug":"india-meteorological-department","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/india-meteorological-department\/","title":{"rendered":"India Meteorological Department&#8217;s (IMD) 150th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in News?<\/li>\n<li>India Meteorological Department (IMD)<\/li>\n<li>Improvements in Forecasting by IMD<\/li>\n<li>Towards Zero-Error Forecasting by IMD<\/li>\n<li>From Forecasting to Weather Management<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>About<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The IMD is a government agency that is responsible for weather forecasting, seismology, and meteorological observations.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It was established in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The IMD has hundreds of observation stations across India and is the country&#8217;s National Meteorological Service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Madate<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The IMD&#8217;s mandate includes:\n<ul>\n<li>Observations: Taking meteorological observations<\/li>\n<li>Forecasting: Providing current and forecast information for weather-dependent activities<\/li>\n<li>Warnings: Giving warnings against severe weather phenomena<\/li>\n<li>Statistics: Providing met-related statistics<\/li>\n<li>Research: Engaging in research\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nodal Ministry\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Indian Government<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Improvements in Forecasting by IMD<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Observation Network<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Doppler Weather Radars<\/strong>: Increased from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2024.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Automatic Weather Stations<\/strong>: Increased from 675 to 1,208.<\/li>\n<li><strong>High Wind Speed Recorders<\/strong>: Increased from 19 to 37.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rainfall Monitoring Stations<\/strong>: Increased from 3,995 to 6,095.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Introduction of New Systems<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Seven automated weather observing systems.<\/li>\n<li>Heliport weather observing systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Satellite Monitoring<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Two geostationary satellites, INSAT 3DR and 3DS, monitor weather round-the-clock (replacing INSAT 3D in 2014).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improved Weather Model Resolution<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Medium-range forecast resolution improved from 25 km to 12 km.<\/li>\n<li>Better resolution enables forecasting for smaller areas with greater accuracy (12 km x 12 km grids).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Significant Gains in Forecast Accuracy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Heatwave Prediction<\/strong>: 95% accuracy up to two days in advance (compared to 50% in 2014).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thunderstorm Detection<\/strong>: Hourly detection accuracy improved to 86% (from 50% in 2017).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Heavy Rainfall Prediction<\/strong>: Accuracy up to three days in advance increased to 78% (from 50% a decade ago).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cyclone Track Prediction<\/strong>: Accuracy improved by 35-40%, leading to zero loss of human lives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Towards Zero-Error Forecasting by IMD<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vision Document 2047<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Objective<\/strong>: To make India climate-smart and weather-ready by 2047, the centenary year of independence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Roadmap<\/strong>: Upgradation of IMD\u2019s capabilities over the next two, five, 10, and 22 years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forecast Accuracy Goals<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Zero-Error Block-Level Forecasts<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Aim: Accurate severe weather predictions up to three days in advance by 2047.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accuracy Targets for Extended Forecasts<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Five-day advance forecasts: 90% accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>Weekly forecasts: 80% accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>10-day advance forecasts: 70% accuracy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Monitoring and Warnings<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Goal<\/strong>: Eliminate human fatalities from severe weather events within 20 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improved Weather Model Resolution<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Current resolution: 12 km.<\/li>\n<li>Target resolution: 5-6 km for hyper-localised weather forecasts at the village panchayat level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>From Forecasting to Weather Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Transitioning to Weather Management<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>IMD aims to evolve from a weather forecaster to a weather manager, focusing on managing rain, hail, and fog, which cause significant disruptions.<\/li>\n<li>Mission Mausam, inaugurated by PM Modi, lays the foundation for weather modification and management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Initiatives under Mission Mausam<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cloud Chamber at IITM, Pune<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>First-of-its-kind in India.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to enhance understanding of cloud physics.<\/li>\n<li>Focus on perfecting cloud seeding to modify precipitation through human interventions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advanced Observation Systems<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Technological Innovations<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), automated weather stations, and IoT-based sensors for data collection in remote areas.<\/li>\n<li>Establishment of regional climate reference stations and smaller Meteorological (Met) centres.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Upper Atmosphere Monitoring<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Round-the-clock monitoring at 100 km x 100 km grids using satellites, aircraft-based profilers, radars, and wind profilers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Forecasting Accuracy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Goal: 100% detection capabilities for all weather phenomena.<\/li>\n<li>Improved data collection and analysis to minimise forecasting errors and enhance weather model performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q.1. What are the key advancements made by IMD in weather forecasting over the last decade?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Over the last decade, IMD has improved forecast accuracy by 40%, increased Doppler weather radars to 39, and reduced weather model resolution to 12 km. This has enhanced prediction accuracy for severe weather events like heatwaves, thunderstorms, and cyclones.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q.2. How does Vision 2047 aim to transform IMD&#8217;s forecasting capabilities?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Vision 2047 aims for zero-error forecasts for severe weather up to three days in advance, accuracy of 90% for five-day forecasts, and hyper-localised predictions with a resolution of 5-6 km at the village level.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-climate\/150-years-of-imd-what-the-weather-agency-has-planned-for-the-future-9783126\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/mausam.imd.gov.in\/responsive\/history.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IMD<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore IMD&#8217;s journey of 150 years, highlighting advancements in forecasting accuracy, Vision 2047 for zero-error predictions, and Mission Mausam for weather management.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44531","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}