MISSION MAUSAM
- Mission Mausam, led primarily by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is envisioned as a comprehensive and transformative initiative aimed at significantly advancing India’s capabilities in weather and climate science, research, and services.
- Its objective is to better equip various stakeholders, including citizens and end-users, in addressing extreme weather events and the challenges posed by climate change. In the long term, this ambitious program will strengthen capacity and resilience across communities, sectors, and ecosystems.
- As part of this mission, India will greatly expand its research and development efforts in atmospheric sciences, with a special focus on weather surveillance, modeling, forecasting, and management.
- By incorporating advanced observation systems, high-performance computing, and state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, Mission Mausam aims to set a new standard for highly accurate weather predictions.
- The mission’s priorities include enhancing data collection and understanding to provide precise and timely weather and climate information across various time frames and regions.
- This will cover monsoon predictions, air quality alerts, extreme weather warnings, cyclone forecasts, and management strategies for fog, hail, and rain. It will also focus on building capacity and raising awareness.
- Key elements include the installation of next-generation radar and satellite systems with advanced sensors, high-performance supercomputers, and the development of improved Earth system models. A GIS-based automated Decision Support System will enable real-time data dissemination.
- Mission Mausam is expected to have a direct positive impact on several sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, defense, environment, aviation, water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transportation, energy, and health.
- It will also enhance data-driven decision-making in areas like urban planning, transport infrastructure, offshore operations, and environmental monitoring
-
The mission will be primarily carried out by three major institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): (a) India Meteorological Department, (b) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and (c) National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting.
-
These will receive support from other MoES organizations, including the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.
-
The goal of Mission Mausam is to strengthen India's capacity to forecast and manage extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change.
-
The mission will focus on improving data collection and understanding to provide precise and timely weather and climate information across different time frames and geographic areas.
-
It will gather data on monsoon patterns, air quality, extreme weather conditions, cyclones, and strategies for managing fog, hail, and rain.
-
Key components of the mission include: (a) the deployment of advanced radars and satellite systems with cutting-edge sensors, (b) high-performance supercomputers and the development of improved Earth system models, and (c) a GIS-based automated decision support system for real-time data dissemination.
-
The mission will benefit sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, defense, aviation, energy, water resources, and tourism.
-
It will enhance decision-making processes in urban planning, transportation, and environmental monitoring.
-
Through this initiative, India will significantly advance its research and capacity in atmospheric sciences, particularly in weather monitoring, modeling, forecasting, and management.
-
The mission will integrate sophisticated observation systems, high-performance computing, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
-
In essence, Mission Mausam aims to improve India's weather forecasting capabilities by upgrading monitoring infrastructure, investing in scientific research, and enhancing the skills of scientists
- Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique to induce artificial rainfall, has been tested in several countries, including India, with mixed results. Over the next 18 months, leading up to 2026, the number of doppler radars, wind profilers, radiometers, and radiosondes will see a significant increase.
- These instruments are crucial for gathering weather data from the earth’s surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Cloud seeding works by accelerating the natural rain formation process, but it only functions when sufficient clouds are present in the atmosphere.
- Rain occurs when atmospheric moisture reaches a saturation point, and cloud seeding helps speed up this process by introducing chemical 'nuclei' around which condensation can form. These 'rain seeds' may include substances like silver or potassium iodide, dry ice (solid CO2), or liquid propane, which can be dispersed either from aircraft or by ground-based spraying methods
|
For Prelims: General issues on Environmental ecology
For Mains: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
|
|
Previous Year Questions
1.In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere? (UPSC CSE 2019) (a) Creating the artificial rains in some regions Answer (d)
|
