India’s Mission Mausam

Source: The post India’s Mission Mausam has been created, based on the article “Weather gods: Attempts at controlling the weather are still in the realm of uncertainty” published in “The Hindu” on 14th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Context: The article discusses India’s Mission Mausam, which aims to improve weather forecasting by upgrading instruments. It also explores new research in cloud simulation and weather modification, with the goal of reducing lightning strikes and better controlling rainfall.

For detailed information on Mission Mausam read this article here

What is Mission Mausam?

1. Mission Mausam is a ₹2,000 crore initiative by the Union Cabinet to upgrade India’s weather forecasting system.
2. It aims to enhance the capabilities of organizations like the India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
3. By 2026, it plans to install 60 weather radars, 15 wind profilers, and 15 radiosondes.
4. A key innovation is a proposed cloud-simulation chamber to model rain clouds and test weather interventions.
5. It also explores reducing lightning strikes, which are the leading cause of natural deaths in India.

How Does This Differ from the National Monsoon Mission?

1. While the National Monsoon Mission, started in 2012, developed models for better monsoon forecasting using intensive computing, Mission Mausam aims to extend capabilities beyond just monsoons.
2. It plans to enhance daily and seasonal forecasts and develop specific models for heatwaves and cold waves.

Why is This Research Important?

1. The research aims to reduce lightning strikes, which are the leading cause of natural deaths in India, surpassing floods and landslides.
2. Advanced instruments like weather radars and wind profilers will improve monitoring of wind, humidity, and temperature.
3. Experiments such as cloud seeding could help control rainfall, which is crucial for agriculture.
4. Climate change adds complexity to weather patterns, making fundamental research essential to predict and mitigate its effects.
5. Weather modification experiments, while uncertain, offer hope for controlling dangerous weather phenomena like lightning, as seen in experiments in other countries.

Question for practice:

Discuss how Mission Mausam aims to improve weather forecasting and mitigate the effects of dangerous weather phenomena like lightning.