System of Aerosol Monitoring And Research (SAMAR)

Dr. Harsh Vardhan Dedicates System of Aerosol Monitoring and Research and User Friendly Website of India Meteorological Department Tomorrow

Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan will be inaugurating the new website of IMD and dedicate to the nation the System of Aerosol Monitoring And Research (SAMAR) which is a network of 16 Aethalometers, 12 Sky radiometers and 12 Nephelometers to characterize aerosol radiative properties & climate impacts. He will the Chief Guest as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) would celebrate its 141st Foundation Day tomorrow on 15 January, 2016. Dr. P.K. Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India shall be the Guest of Honour. Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences shall preside over the function.

IMD is celebrating the Foundation Day with a view to promote awareness about advancements made in the field of Weather Monitoring & Forecasting during 2015 and the new initiatives taken by the Department for accelerating its capabilities & services, with focus on further improving the accuracy of prediction of extreme weather events at city, block and district level. Some of the achievements during 2015 are given below:

Accurate prediction of SW Monsoon 2015 rainfall (Actual: 86%, Forecast: 88% of Long Period Average)

Accurate prediction of NE Monsoon 2015 rainfall (Actual: 132%, Forecast: >111% of Long Period Average)

Accurate prediction of Extreme weather events like extremely heavy rains over Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu during southwest and northeast monsoon 2015, severe heat wave in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in May, 2015, Hail storm over northwest, central and adjoining north Peninsula India during March, 2015.

Significant improvement in short and medium range weather forecasts ( Probability of Detection & Critical Success Index improved by 37% and 46% and False Alarm rate & missing rate reduced by 77% and 36% respectively in 2013-2015 over 2002-2012 for southwest monsoon heavy rainfall warnings).

Accurate prediction of cyclones (forecast error reduced by 13,13,17 km for 1,2,3 days, respectively in 2015 over 2010-2014).

Provided City Weather forecast for 324 stations, tourism forecast for 106 stations and nowcast for 156 stations.

Increased forecasts and colour code warnings validity from 3 to 5 days over India and introduced sector wise 7-days special forecast & warnings for Western Himalayan Region for Indian Army. Provided Model based QPF for river basin for flood forecasting.

IMD has made rapid strides in modernizing its services by adopting DIGITAL INDIA initiative of the Prime Minister by using latest technology for information dissemination. IMD has upgraded its website to make it more user-friendly and we are now widely using GIS platform, mobile apps and SMS for dissemination of its alerts and advisories. Under MAKE IN INDIA programme, Department has already deployed 20 Drishti Transmissometers at critical Airports and 222 DTH based Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS). Automatic weather observing system jointly developed by National Aeronautical Laboratory and IMD is under validation.

Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be felicitated on this occasion. Union Minister will also give certificates of appreciations to the best employees and best offices of IMD who have made outstanding contribution during 2015.