On January 15, 2025, the Prime Minister of India participated in the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi. During the event, he launched the Mission Mausam initiative and unveiled the IMD Vision-2047 document. The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was also present at the ceremony.
What is the Mission Mausam Initiative?
Overview: Mission Mausam is a government-led initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of India's weather department in weather forecasting, modeling, and dissemination.
Budget: The initiative has been allocated Rs 2,000 crore for its first two years.
Objectives:
- Upgrade Weather Forecasting: The mission aims to improve the accuracy of short to medium-range weather forecasts by 5-10%, enhance air quality predictions in major metro cities by up to 10%, and extend predictions to the panchayat level with a lead time of 10-15 days. Currently, the IMD's accuracy for extreme events such as heatwaves is around 98%, while forecasts for heavy rainfall stand at about 80%.
- Invest in Technology: The mission will leverage advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing to improve weather models and observational systems, including the installation of additional Doppler radars and satellites.
- Weather Management: The initiative will explore weather modification techniques like cloud seeding to manage rainfall and mitigate extreme events such as floods and droughts.
- Cloud Chamber Research: A cloud chamber will be established at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, to study cloud dynamics and advance weather management through cloud seeding experiments.
Phases: Mission Mausam will be implemented in two phases over five years: - Phase One (2025 - March 2026): Focus on expanding the observational network with the addition of approximately 70 Doppler radars, high-performance computers, wind profilers, and radiometers.
- Phase Two (2026 onwards): Further enhancement of observational capabilities through the introduction of satellites and aircraft.
What is the IMD Vision-2047 Document?
Overview: The IMD Vision-2047 document outlines a strategic roadmap for improving weather forecasting accuracy and disaster management in India by 2047. It defines milestones for the next two years, as well as for 2035 and 2047.
Key Objectives:
- 100% Detection of Severe Weather: Achieving complete detection of severe weather events at the village and household levels by 2047 through enhanced observational systems such as satellites and radars.
- Forecast Accuracy:
- 100% accuracy for forecasts up to 3 days
- 90% accuracy for forecasts up to 5 days
- 80% accuracy for forecasts up to 7 days
- 70% accuracy for forecasts up to 10 days
- Zero Deaths from Weather Events: The document sets a target to eliminate fatalities from extreme weather events by ensuring timely warnings and effective disaster management.
About the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD):
Established in 1875, IMD is India's primary agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology. Operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, IMD provides critical weather forecasts and warnings for sectors like agriculture, aviation, and shipping, and supports national development. It also conducts research to advance the field of meteorology.
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