Introduction
Government of India, in its Cabinet meeting held on 9th
May 2006, have approved formation of the Earth Commission and
re-organisation of the Ministry of Ocean Development as Ministry of Earth
Sciences. Earth Commission has been patterned
on the lines of Atomic Energy Commission/ Space Commission for delegation and
authority.
The
21st century is likely to be dominated by concerns of water, global
climate change, environment, land use and ocean
resources. The need for taking up an
integrated view of Earth System Sciences, i.e. land-ocean atmosphere is being
recognized across the world. The Indian
efforts till recently, were being independently made by individual agencies
like Ministry of Ocean Development (now Ministry of Earth Sciences), India
Meteorological Department (IMD), research institutes like Indian Institute of
Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), a few laboratories of Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), etc. There is a need to integrate these
activities.
The
Ministry of Earth Sciences aims to create a framework for understanding the
complex interactions among key elements of the Earth System, namely ocean,
atmosphere and solid earth, by encompassing the existing national programmes in
meteorology, climate, environment and seismology. The Earth System Organisation (ESO) will act
as an executive mechanism under the Ministry of Earth Science, consisting of
two major entities – (i) Ocean Science and Technology Department, and (ii) India
Meteorological Department. In addition,
the Earth System Organisation would have, at its Headquarters, the Ministry of
Earth Sciences office and the Programme Offices for coordination among the
constituent organisations and units engaged in similar work in other
departments, academic institutions and research bodies. The Ocean Science and Technology Department
consists of the existing centres and attached offices of the erstwhile Ministry
of Ocean Development. The Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and National Centre for Medium Range
Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) would be active partners of the ESO.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences will
provide the nation with best possible services in forecasting the monsoons and
other weather/ climate parameters, ocean state, earthquakes, tsunamis and other
phenomena related to earth systems through well integrated programmes and
utilizing world class science and technology resources. In addition, the Ministry will work on
science and technology for exploration and exploitation of ocean resources
(living and non-living), and play nodal role for Antarctic/ Arctic and Southern
Ocean research. The Ministry would
closely work with other agencies both public and private to provide them
scientific and technical support and assist in ensuring adequate preparedness
for handling natural disasters.
The Right to Information Act, 2005
MANUAL-(I)
**********
The
particulars of its organization, functioning and duties.
***********
1. PARTICULARS OF ORGANIZATION
1.1 Historical
Background:
The beginnings of
meteorology in
Meteorology,
as we perceive it now, may be said to have had its firm scientific foundation
in the 17th century after the invention of the thermometer and the
barometer and the formulation of laws governing the behaviour of atmospheric
gases. It was in 1636 that Halley, a British scientist, published his treatise
on the Indian summer monsoon, which he attributed to a seasonal reversal of
winds due to the differential heating of the Asian land mass and the
Very
early in the history of IMD, the importance of the puplication of scientific
results had been recognized. Blandford introduced the publication of the
“Memories of the IMD” and him self authored several of them. His work on the
rainfall of
Blanford had recognized the
need for inducting young Indian in IMD and the first two Indians Lala Ruchin
Ram Sahni (Father of Professor Birbal Sahni) and Lala Hemraj joined IMD in 1884
and 1886 respectively. The Indianisation of IMD was accelerated under Walker,
soon after World War I, and further boosted by Sir C.W.B. Normand
(Director-General during 1928 to 1944) Normand was succeeded by Dr. S.K.
Banerji as the first Indian DGO in 1944. During these years, many Indian
scientists joined IMD and they took IMD to greater heights themselves in the
post – independence era.
1.2 Development
of meteorology in
From a modest beginning in
1875, IMD has progressively
expanded its infrastructure for meteorological
observations, communications, forecasting and weather services and it has
achieved a parallel scientific growth. IMD has always used contemporary
technology. In the telegraph age, it made extensive use of weather telegrams
for collecting observational data and sending warnings. Later IMD became the
first organization in
IMD
has continuously ventured into new areas of application and service, and
steadily built upon its infrastructure. It has simultaneously nurtured the
growth of meteorology and atmospheric science in
2. FUNCTIONS OF IMD
IMD is the National Meteorological Service of the
country and the Principal Government Agency in all matters relating to
Meteorology, Seismology and allied subjects.
-
To take meteorological observations and
to provide current and forecast meteorological information for optimum
operation of weather-sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation,
shipping, aviation, off-shore oil exploration etc.
-
To warn against severe weather phenomena
like tropical cyclones, norwesters, dust storms, heavy rains and snow, cold
& heat waves etc. which causes destruction of life and property.
-
To provide meteorological statistics
required for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil
exploration and other nation-building activities.
-
To conduct and promote research in
meteorology and allied disciplines.
-
To detect and locate earthquakes and to
evaluate seismicity in different parts of the country for development projects.
-
To study and identify the potential
consequences of an earthquake, both in relation to existing structures as well
as in the planning and locating new facilities “in terms of cost
effectiveness”.
2.2
Functions
-
Install and maintain Departmental
observatories, provide equipment and technical support for set up of
observational networks of State Governments, other authorized agencies and
ships of the voluntary observation fleet. Set up infrastructure for Satellite
remote sensing of meteorological parameters.
-
Record observations of meteorological
parameters in
-
Maintain fast telecommunication links
within the country and the world for dissemination of meteorological
observations and exchange of meteorological products.
-
Analyse and process meteorological data
collected from observatories within the country and outside.
-
Issue forecasts of weather events and
meteorological parameters viz. temperatures, rainfall, humidity, winds and sky
condition within the country for stipulated periods. Issue of forecasts and
warnings of high impact weather events like Cyclonic Storms, Thunderstorms,
Squalls, Tornados, Storm surge etc, and warnings of specific parameters viz.
strong winds, heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall, hail storms, waves and tides,
etc.
-
Disseminate weather information,
advisories and warnings to the Public through media, to Government Departments
and District authorities,
-
Scrutinise and process meteorological
observations for assimilation into climatological archives.
-
Design, develop, manufacture and maintain
meteorological and seismological instruments and procure sophisticated
equipment for modernising observatories.
-
Maintain a network of seismological
observatories to record earthquakes and study of the earth’s crust.
-
To provide a purposive turning point to
guide national endeavour in mitigating the disastrous impacts of earthquake and
to provide earthquake risk related knowledge products.
-
Provide training facilities to all
branches of meteorology, Seismology, telecommunication and instruments.
-
Conduct research in theoretical and applied
meteorology, Seismology and allied topics.
-
International cooperation in meteorology
and seismology.
-
Provide hydrometeorological information and
inputs for water resource management and flood forecasting.
-
Maintain liaison with other scientific
organisations in the country in the fields of agriculture, hydrology,
oceanography, air pollution etc.
-
To participate in special expeditions of
meteorological interest like Antarctic Expeditions, Study of Himalayan
glaciers, total Solar Eclipse, etc.
-
To conduct study in Positional Astronomy,
bring out related publication and issue Radio Times Signals.
3. ORGANISATION
The Director General of Meteorology is the
Head of the India Meteorological Department, with headquarters at
For the convenience of
administrative and technical control, there are 06 Regional Meteorological
Centres, each under a Deputy Director General with headquarters at Mumbai,
Chennai,
(i)
Agricultural
Meteorology
(ii)
Civil Aviation
(iii)
Hydrometeorology
(iv)
Instrumentation
(v)
Climatology
(vi)
Regional Specialised Meteorological
Centre
(vii)
Positional Astronomy
(viii) Seismology
(ix)
Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre
(x)
Satellite Meteorology
(xi)
Telecommunication
(xii)
Training
Under the
administrative control of Deputy Director General, there are different types of
operational units such as Meteorological Centres, Forecasting Offices, Agrimet.
Advisory Centres, Flood Meteorological Offices and Cyclone Detection Radar
Stations.
3.1 MANAGEMENT
STRUCTURE
The India Meteorological Department attached to Ministry
of Earth Sciences w.e.f. 12.07.2006. The
constitution of each commission was done by President of India w.e.f.
09.01.2007. The main features of this new set-up are as follows:-
Composition of the Earth Commission
Dr. P. S. Goel : Chairman
Secretary, Ministry of Earth
Sciences.
Sh. T. K. A. Nair : Member
Principal Secretary to Prime
Minister
Sh. V. K. Duggal : Member
Home Secretary
Sh. R.R. Saha : Member
Member Secretary, Planning
Commission.
Dr. Sanjiv Mishra : Member
Secretary (Expenditure)
Member (Finance) : Member
(Common for Space Commission,
Atomic
Energy Commission & Earth
Commission.
Prof. R. Narasimha : Member
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced
Scientific Research,
Prof. S. K. Dubey : Member
Director, Indian Institute of
Technology
Kharagpur.
Dr. B. N. Goswami : Member
Director, Indian Institute of
Tropical
Meteorology, Pune.
Dr. Satish Shetye : Member
Director, National Institute
of Oceanography,
Dr. P. K. Mishra : Member
Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture
Sh. Ajay Prasad : Member
Secretary, Ministry of Civil
Aviation.
3.2 OBSERVATIONAL
ORGANISATION
A brief
description of each types of observatory is given in the following
paragraphs. Details regarding observations
records, their frequency, the normal component of staff employed and the
distribution of the observatories among the Regional Meteorological Canters are
given in the Annexure –I.
3.2.1 Surface
Observatories
Surface Observatories as far as possible are located
one in each district so as to meet the requirements of agricultural, transport
and other operations. Of the 556
observatories, about 66.7% are manned by staff of State Governments/Schools
etc. on payment of an allowance by the Department. The instruments and stores
are provided by the Department.
3.2.2 Upper Air Observatories (Radiosonde, Radio
wind and Pilot Balloon Observatories)
There are at present 62 Pilot Balloon Observatories,
39 Radiosonde/ Radiowind and 01 Radiosonde Observatory. The upper air meteorological data thus
collected all over the country are used on real time basis for operational
forecasting. These data are also processed on computer and short period
averages of Radiosonde data and normal of Radio wind data have been brought
out.
3.2.3 Aeronautical
Meteorological Instruments
For safety of Aircraft operations, particularly at the
time of landing and take off, Modern meteorological instruments “Current Weather
Instruments System” (CWIS) have been installed at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New
Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Guwahati
and at Nagpur for continuous monitoring of runway visibility, height of cloud
base and other weather elements, such as surface wind, air temperature and dew
point temperature. Two Nos. dual-baseline transmission meters are also
installed at Kolkata, Airport for ILS CAT III Operations.
3.2.4 Cyclone
Detection Radars
There are 11 Nos. of S-band Cyclone Detection Radar
Stations viz. Kolkata,
It is also planned to replace the remaining existing
old conventional CDRs by the state of art S-Band Doppler Weather Radar in a
phased manner. Doppler Weather Radars
provide vital information on radial velocity within tropical cyclone which is
not available in conventional radar. A
conventional radar provides information on reflectivity and range only whereas
a DWR provides velocity and spectral width data alongwith various
Meteorological, Hydrological and Aviation products which are very useful for
forecasters in estimating the storm’s centre, its intensity, fixing its
position and predicting its future path.
The Doppler Weather Radar generates these products through a variety of
software algorithms.
3.2.5 Storm
Detection Radars
There are at present 9 X-Band,
working on 3 cm. Wavelength for the
purpose of storm detection, these are installed at Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati,
Ranchi, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur and Agartala airports. Also, there are
two S-Band radars working on 10 cm Wavelength at Sriganganagar and Jaisalmer
for warning against convective clouds and thunder storm formation and one
S-Band Radar at Mausam Bhawan,
Wind
Finding Radars
There are 9 X-Band Wind Finding
Radars working on 3 cm wavelength at Bhubneshwar A.P,
Weather
cum Wind Finding Radars
There are 8 X-Band radars working on
3 cm wavelength which are used for Weather Cum Wind finding purpose. These
radars are installed at Ahmedabad,
Ten X Band radars (at Ahmedabad,
3.2.6 Hydro
meteorological Observatories
These observatories recording mainly precipitation
data, were set up in connection with flood forecasting, river basin studies
(like the Damodar Valley, Ganga, Brahamputra etc.) compilation of rainfall
statistics for use in construction of dams, railways and road bridges,
evaluation of snow-melt in Himalayan rivers and water balance and glaciological
studies. These observatories are manned
by part-time staff. The number of
observatories depends upon the need of the specific project. The expenditure involved in the observatories
set up for projects undertaken on behalf of other organization, is recovered
from the sponsoring agency.
3.2.7 Non-departmental
Rain gauge Stations
In addition to the raingauges maintained by the
Department, State Governments are maintaining over 7610 raingauge stations
whose data are made available to the India Meteorological Department in
manuscript form.
3.2.8 Agrometeorological
Observatories
These observatories supply meteorological data to the
India Meteorological Department. They are maintained by the State Agricultural
and Irrigation Department, Agricultural Research Institutes and research farms,
The India Meteorological Department renders technical assistance to these
organisations in selection of site, procurement, testing and standardization of
instruments, setting up of observatories, their inspection and training the
personnel.
3.2.9 Evaporation
Observatories
Standard
3.2.10 Evapotranspiration Stations
Evapotranspiration in plants is measured by means of
lysimeters at 40 stations to determine the water requirement of important
crops. The network of 40 stations is the
representative of different agro-climatic regions in the country. Three of these evapotranspiration stations
will be provided with additional instruments to undertake more intensive
studies on crop weather relationship. At present three stations are functioning
at Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra Farm,
3.2.11 Soil Moisture Observational Network
43 soil moisture stations are at present
functioning. Most of these stations are
manned by departmental personnel.
3.2.12 Dew Fall Measuring Stations
Besides rainfall, dew fall is one of the secondary
source of moisture available to the crops.
It plays a significant role in plant growth, particularly in arid and
semi-arid regions. It is measured from
September to April by 76 observatories.
3.2.13 Seismological Observatories
India Meteorological Department is maintaining the National
Seismological Network (NSN) consisting of 47 Seismological Observatories. Four
more Seismological Observatories are also being maintained for river valley
studies under the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Twenty four of the NSN
stations are equipped with state-of-the-art digital seismograph systems and
matching V-SAT based communication facilities for real time downloading of
earthquake waveform data. The NSN stations are also equipped with Strong Motion
Accelerograph systems for recording strong ground motions expected during major
earthquakes. The functioning of the Central Seismological Observatory, Shillong
and Ridge Seismological Observatory,
India Meteorological Department is also maintaining
a local network consisting of 16 field stations under Delhi Telemetry Network
to monitor the earthquake activities in the region. These 16 field stations are
connected with Central Receiving Stations (CRS) at
3.2.14 Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre (EREC)
There
are at present 16 field stations under
3.2.15 Ozone Observatories
Ozone in the atmosphere is monitored through a network
of observatories (Figure 3). The Observational programme consists of:
(a) Total
ozone and Umkehr observations by Dobson Ozone spectrophotometer are taken daily
from 4 stations viz.
(b)
Vertical ozone profile by IMD-made
balloon-borne ozonesonde (fortnightly) at 4 stations viz.
(c)
Surface ozone measurement with
electrochemical instruments at 7 stations viz.
Research
facilities:- A high quality data on ozone is available at the “National Data
Centre” Pune and also the National Ozone Centre established at IMD,
3.2.16 Radiation Observatories
(i)
Surface
Observatories
There are at present 45 radiation observatories (20
Principal and 19 ordinary and 6 other types) recording limited radiation
parameters.
(ii)
Upper
Air Observatories
Besides the measurements on the surface, fortnightly
airborne sounding with radiometersonde to measure directly the vertical
distribution of the infra-red radiative fluxes and radiation cooling from
surface upto a height of 20 Km or more in the free atmosphere, are made at New
Delhi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune, Nagpur, Jodhpur, Kolkata and
Bhubaneswar. Radiometersonde ascents are
being conducted regularly at Maitri, the Indian Antarctic station also.
3.2.17 Atmospheric Electricity Measurement
Continuous and automatic recording of surface
electrical potential gradient and electrical conductivity are being done at
Pune. The study of surface potential
gradient is now being done at three more stations viz.
3.2.18 Automatic Weather Stations.
A
data receiving earth station has also been installed at Pune for receiving data
from Automatic Weather Stations. ISRO
has also planned installation of 25 AWS to operate in TDMA mode and for trial a
TDMA receiving station has also been installed at Pune for ISRO.
3.2.19 Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) [formerly
BAPMoN]
With a view to document the long term changes in
chemical composition of the atmosphere and related parameters IMD established a
network of 10 GAW stations under WMO’s GAW monitoring program. The Indian GAW
network includes
Precipitation Chemistry Program: Wet precipitation samples collected at GAW
stations are sent to Chemical laboratory at Pune where these are analysed for
PH, conductivity, major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and major anions (SO4,
NO3, Cl). Measurements of organic acids in precipitation will be
undertaken in near future.
Atmospheric Turbidity Program:
Atmospheric
Turbidity which indicates the columnar aerosol load of the atmosphere; is also
measured at these GAW stations using Volz’s Sunphotometers. This single channel
Sunphotometer is being replaced in phased manner by the multichannel
Sunphotometer purchased recently under Plan Scheme. In the first phase these
are installed at Pune, Nagpur & Kodaikanal, Atmospheric Turbidity is also
measured at
These data from GAW stations provide
reliable long-term observations of the chemical composition of the atmosphere
and related parameters in order to improve our understanding of atmospheric
chemistry and to organize assessment in support of formulating environment
policy. Chemical composition of precipitation is useful in quantifying the
level of pollution due to increasing anthropogenic acitivities.
Urban
Climatological Units
To study the impact of industrialisational
urbanisation and terrain modifications on micro-climatological features of
urban areas, urban climatological studies are carried at
The existing network, a few Automatic Weather Stations
(AWS) using state of the art technology are added to the existing network. These are installed at C.Ag.M.O., Pune,
Chennai,
3.3 Types
of Observatories
TABLE
The Observational Organization as on
1.10.2005 is as under
Types of
Observatories Number
(1) Surface Observatories 556
(2) Pilot Balloon Observatories 65
(3)
(a) RS/RW
Observatories
34
(b) RS
Observatory 1
(4)
Aviation Current Weather Observatories 73
(5)
Aviation Forecasting Offices at National
& 19
International Airports
(6)
Regional Area Forecast Centre 1
(7)
Storm Detection Radar Stations 17
(8)
Cyclone Detection Radar Stations 10
(9)
High Wind Recording Stations 22
(10)
Stations for receiving cloud pictures
from
Satellites :-
(a) Low Resolution Cloud Pictures 7
(b) High
Resolution Cloud Pictures 1
(c) INSAT-IB Cloud Pictures (SDUC Stations) 25
(d) APT
Stations in Antarctica 1
(e) AVHRR Station 1
(11)
Data Collection Platforms through INSAT
101
(12)
Hydrometeorological Observatories 633
(13)
(i)
Non-departmental raingauge stations :
(a) Reporting 7610
(b) Non-Reporting 4959
(ii)
Non-departmental Glaciological
Observatories (Non-reporting) :
(a) Snowgauges 21
(b) Ordinary
Raingauges 10
(c) Seasonal Snow Poles 6
(14)
Agrometeorological Observatories 228
(15)
Evaporation Stations 238
(16)
Evapotranspiration Stations 39
(17)
Seismological Observatories 58
(18)
(a) Total Ozone and Umkehr Observatories
5
(b) Ozone-sonde Observatories 3
(c) Surface Ozone Observatories 6
(19)
Radiation Observatories :
(a)
Surface 45
(b)
Upper Air 8
(20)
Atmospheric Electricity Observatories 4
(21)
(a) Background Pollution Observatories
10
(b) Urban
Climatological Units 2
(c) Urban
Climatological Observatories 13
(22)
Ships of the Indian Voluntary Observiang
Fleet 203
(23)
Soil Moisture Recording Stations 55
(24)
Dew-fall Recording Stations 75
(The Ozone Network, Radars Network, RS/RW Network, and
existing Network of radiation stations are shown in Figs. 3 to 8 respectively.)
4. MAIN DIVISIONS
4.1 WEATHER FORECASTING ORGANISATION
Weather
Forecasting forms an important activity of the department and it caters to the
need of a large number of interest. In
TABLE
The
Organisation for providing different types of forecasts and warnings is given
in the table below :-
|
S.No |
Category/Meteorological Offices
issuing Weather Forecasting |
Details
of Service |
User
Interest |
|
1 |
Aviation
Meteorological
Offices at Agartala,Ahmedabad,
|
(i) Forecasts of upper winds
temperature etc. for flight planning (ii) Flight forecasts in tabular
form/corresponding prognostic charts cross-sections etc. (iii)Terminal Aerodrome Forecast & aerodrome
warnings. (iv) SIGMET Warning (by Met. watch offices Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi &
Chennai only) |
Airlines Airlines
& Air Traffic Control |
|
|
Regional
Area Forecast Centre, New |
Supply
of SADIS , Products such as grid point prognostic charts and SIGWS charts for
the region from Middle-East to |
National
& International Airlines |
|
|
Tropical
Cyclone Advisory Centre, |
Advisory
information on tropical cyclones to Aviation Met. offices in |
National
& International Airlines |
|
2 |
Marine
Cyclone
Warning Centres at Kolkata (Alipore), Mumbai (Colaba), Chennai
(Nungambakkam), Ahmedabad, |
(i) Forecasts for Bay of Bengal
& Arabian Sea. (ii) Coastal forecasts (iii) Cyclone Warnings. (iv) Port Warnings. |
Ships Ships,
Govt. Deptts. Maritime State
& Public Ports |
|
|
Cyclone
Warning Centre at Mumbai, Kolkata & ISONSHAC, Pune |
Fleet
Forecast twice a day, frequency of bulletins increases to four during
tropical storm period for Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean upto 10o
S (60o E to 100o E) |
Indian
Navy |
|
|
Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), ACWC Mumbai, Kolkata &
INOSHAC, Pune. |
Bulletins
twice a day are issued for Met. area VIII N for To
north of Equator. The frequency increases to six during tropical storm period |
All
ships |
|
3 |
Fisheries
Cyclone
Warning Centres at Kolkata (Alipore), Mumbai (Colaba), Chennai
(Nungambakkam), Ahmedabad, |
(i) Adverse weather along coast,
4 times daily (including nil warnings). (ii) Cyclone Warning |
(i)Fishing Craft
through A.I.R. (ii) Fisheries officials |
|
4 |
Agriculture
(a) Regional Met. Centres/Met.
Centres at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar,Kolkata,
Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chennai, Nagpur, New Delhi,
Patna,Srinagar,Thiruvananthapuram and Chandigarh (17) |
(i) Farmer’s weather Bulletins (2
bulletins are issued daily during rainy season) (iii)
Agricultural advisory message |
Message
for Farmer’s broadcast from A.I.R. stations in local languages |
|
|
(b) Meteorological Offices at
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar,Kolkata, Chandigarh, Shimla,
Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chennai, New Delhi, Patna,
Pune, Srinagar & Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun and Raipur |
Agromet. Advisory service Bulletins (weekly/ By-weekly) |
Advisories
for Farmer’s broadcast/ Telecasts
in local languages through AIR/Door-darshan) |
|
5 |
Floods
|
(i)Quantitative precipitation forecasts (ii) Prevailing Synoptic situation (iii)Heavy rainfall warning (iv) Realised Average precipitation for each sub-basin during past 12/24
hours (v) Point rainfall data of
selected stations |
Water
Resources Flood Forecasting Division
of CWC (Total No. 19) |
|
6 |
Reservoir
Management
(a) Kolkata (Alipore) (b) (c) Mumbai (Colaba) |
Forecasts
of rainfall in:- |
DVC
Management Hirakund
Dam Project Authorities
|
|
7 |
General
Mumbai
(Colaba) Pune
(Weather Central) Pune
(INOSHAC) Ahmedabad,
Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chandigarh,
Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chennai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Srinagar &
Thiruvananthapuram (17) RMC
New |
Wind,
weather, visibility, sea swell and cyclone warnings All
(i) Weather
Bulletins are issued twice a day describing salient features between 20o
E and 155oE and between 45o N and 5o S based
on 00z and 12z. (ii) Fleet forecast issued twice a
day for sea area between 60oE to 100oE and 5oN
to 10o S. The frequency increase to four during tropical Storm
period (iii)Daily two bulletins of GMDSS originated w.e.f.
1.10.98 for Met. area VIII(N) to the north of Equator on regular basis.
During tropical cyclones in four additional special bulletins are also
originated. (i) Forecasts for one or more
States for next two days. (ii) Local forecasts for Capital
cities. (iii) Warnings
against adverse weather (i)Weather forecast is provided 3 times daily to State Govt. authorities
to regulate Amar Nath ji Yatra during 40 days period. (ii)Weather forecast is provided to Govt. to regulate Kailash Mansarovar
yatra during the 3 month period. (iii) Weather forecast information is provided on IVRA by
dailing No.1717 from Met. Office Safdarjung for 37 important cities and all
the four metros. |
Oil
and Natural Gas Commission Newspapers
and AIR Departmental
Offices Public
Newspapers, AIR and Govt. officials about 1500 officials registered with
different offices. |
|
8 |
World Weather Watch
(WWW) Northern
Hemisphere Analysis Centre (Designated as Regional Specialised Met. Centre
under WWW from 1.7.1998) |
Analysis
and Prognosis for |
Meteoro-logical
offices within the country and outside |
|
9 |
|
(a) Forecasts of Southwest
Monsoon rainfall (June-Sept.) over (b) Updated Forecast of Southwest Monsoon rainfall (June-Sept.) over (c)
Forecast for Southwest monsoon
rainfall for the month of July over (d) North-East monsoon rainfall(October-December) over South peninsula
issued in the first week of October (e) Rabi season rainfall (Oct.-March) over North-West (f)
Precipitation during winter season
over North-West |
Govt.
officials, Public and News papers Govt.
Officials, Public
and Newspapers Govt.
Officials Govt.
Officials Govt.
Officials Govt.
Officials |
4.2 METEOROLOGICAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Meteorological telecommunication of India Meteorological
Department (IMD) consists of an integrated network of point-to-point circuits
and multipoint circuits which inter connect meteorological centers within the
country and the world for receiving data and relaying it selectively. It is
mainly organized on a two level basis, namely
I)
The meteorological telecommunication network within the Global
Telecommunication System (GTS) of World Weather Watch (WWW) program of World Meteorological Organization
(WMO), and
II)
The National Meteorological Telecommunication
Network (NMTN)
IMD maintains an extensive telecommunication network with a
central hub in Mausam Bhavan, New Delhi. The Regional telecommunication hub
(RTH), New Delhi,
located on the Main Trunk Network (MTN) is the core network of GTS.
RTH New Delhi is directly connected with World Meteorological Center (WMC)
Moscow (IPVPN), RTH
Tokyo (IPVPN) and RTH
Cairo on the MTN. RTH New Delhi
is also directly connected with RTH
Beijing (IPVPN), RTH Jeddah and
WMC Melbourne located on the MTN,
RTHs Bangkok and Tehran and National
Meteorological Centers (NMCS) Colombo, Dhaka, Karachi, Kathmandu, Male, Muscat
and Yangon in the Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Networks (RMTNS).
Present status of circuits in the GTS connected with RTH. New Delhi is given at Annexure-I.
The national meteorological telecommunication
network consists of 37 high speed (64 kbps), 1 medium speed (2400 bps), 15 satellite based data reception
system by using m/s. World space technology,
4 integrated data reception and
analysis system,67 stations having HF/RT facility, 47 stations with vhf (including walkie-
talkie) facility, internet connectivity at all
important stations, 5 new VSAT (micro-earth stations), 5 stations with automatic message system
(AMSS) and 4 pc based current weather display systems.
Meteorological
data and processed products containing 3 hourly
INSAT imageries, surface and upper air data, aerodrome forecast, Wx.
Charts and model outputs, etc. Exchanged over gts are broadcast using world
space ASIA STAR
satellite. The broadcast covers large areas of middle- east and
south- east asia.
Imd’s website (http://www.imd.ernet.in)
is operational since 1st june, 2000. All the
forecasting products like charts, warnings, satellite imageries, rainfall
information are placed and timely updated in imd’s website. Another website http://www.imd.gov.in
is also operational. The regional meteorological centers
are also having their own websites and many stations have
been provided with internet facility. On account of increasing demand of public
to view imd’s website and to avoid choking of these links, telecom division has already upgraded these links
through service providers by increasing bandwidth from 128 kbps to 2 mbps for the website
imd.ernet.in and from 2 mbps to 4 mbps for the website imd.gov.in. Additionally
an internet link working at 10 mbps has been added in March 2008.
Popularly known as weather on phone, the
interactive voice response system (IVRS) is functioning with effect from July,
2000. One can access current weather and forecast for major indian
cities by dialing toll free number 1800 180 1717. In the new system 26 cities will
be provided with IVRS
with central monitoring from RTH New Delhi.
A
receive only satellite data dissemination system (SADIS) is in operation
at New Delhi to receive aeronautical meteorological information from
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) centers which are routed to
four international airports of India for national and international flight
briefing and for providing data in GRIB/ BUFR format for wind/ temperature and
sig. Wx. Charts.
Under the
marine meteorological broadcast system GMDSS (global maritime distress safety
system) of WMO/ IMO, IMD bulletins are broadcast through in marsat safety net
system. The message are also kept on imd web site..
Stations having
departmental Telecom. facilities
(a) International Circuit As on
31.03.2008
Present Status of Circuits in the GTS
connected with RTH, New Delhi
|
Circuit |
speed |
Procedure Application |
Exchange data type |
|
New Delhi-Moscow |
128 KBPS IPVPN |
TCP/IP/FTP |
Message(A/N,BIN)* |
|
New Delhi-Tokyo |
128 KBPS IPVPN |
TCP/IP/ socket |
Message(A/N,BIN) |
|
New Delhi-Beijing |
128 KBPS IPVPN |
TCP /IP/FTP |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Jeddah |
64 KBPS |
TCP/IP socket |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Cairo |
64 KBPS |
TCP/IP socket |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Bangkok** |
200 Baud |
T/P |
Message(ASCII) |
|
New Delhi-Melbourne |
Internet |
TCP socket, |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Male |
Internet |
TCP socket, |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Karachi |
64 KBPS |
TCP socket |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Muscat |
Internet |
TCP socket, |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Dhaka |
64 KBPS |
TCP/IP socket |
Message(A/N) |
|
New Delhi-Yangon |
Internet |
TCP/IP |
Message(ASCII) |
|
New Delhi-Tehran |
75 baud |
T/P |
Message(ASCII) |
|
New Delhi-Colombo |
Internet |
TCP/IP |
Message(ASCII) |
|
New Delhi-Kathmandu |
50 baud |
T/P |
Message(ASCII) |
*A/N : Alpha-numeric
B/N
: Binary
** : Being
upgraded to 64 Kbps shortly
(b)
National Circuits
(i) High
Speed links (upto 2Mbps) 37
(ii) Data
Circuits (2400 BPS) 01
(iii) IVRS
stations 18 out of 26 installed
(iv) Stations provided
VPN 16
(iv)
Satellite based data reception
system
by using M/s World Space Technology.
15
(vi) Integrated data reception & analysis system. 04
(vii) Stations
with telefax facility. 137
(viii) VHF
(including Walkie-Talkie facility) 47
(ix) Station
with HF/RT facility.
67
(x) VSAT
Stations (MES) out
of 26 new 5 installed remaining under process
(xi) Automatic
Message Switching System
(AMSS)Stations
(MES) 5
(xii) PC Based Current Weather display system. 4
(xiii) Stations with B/ Band internet connectivity 134
4.2.1
Network within the country
Quick collection of data from
a vast network of surface and upper air observing stations, ships on high seas,
aircraft reports, radar observations, forecasts and warnings and their
selective distribution are vitally important to the operational needs of the
Department. To meet national and
international requirement, the department maintains an extensive
telecommunication network connecting all the meteorological offices and data
collection centres.
(i)
Collection and distribution of National data
Basic data from the observatories are collected at
collection centres, which are either meteorological offices at State Capitals
or Regional Centres, by means of departmental telecom facilities and land-line
telegram. The stations whose data are exchanged on Global Telecommunication
system are mostly connected by point to point links, telex or radio-telephony
links. Important observatories have been provided with back-up
telecommunication facilities so that the failure of one does not held up the
flow of data.
(ii)
Collection of Ships Observations
Observations from ships on high seas are collected at
Regional Collecting Centres, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai through Coastal radio
stations operated by the Department of Telecommunications.
(iii)
Exchange of Aeronautical Meteorological Message
Although aeronautical meteorological messages are
handled primarily by the AFTN network of the National Airports Authority of
India (NAD), a limited teleprinter network exists in order to supplement the
AFTN. A teleprinter loop connects the international airports at Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata-Delhi. Aeronautical messages and data needed for
aircraft operations flow on this closed loop to make them available to all
meteorological offices. T/P circuits and
telex connection are used for exchange of aeronautical meteorological data with
other meteorological offices.
(iv) World Space Satellite Broadcast System
India Meteorological Department has started a new
meteorological data and processed products broadcasting service from 1st
July 2003 using World Space “Asia Star” Satellite. This is a
replacement of the HF broadcast system which has become outdated due to
obsolence of the technology and non-availability of HF transmitters of required
capacity. The Meteorological data presently being broadcasted are:
1) Indian Satellite images such as three
hourly visible, infra red, water vapour images.
2) GTS data (SYNOP, PILOT, TEMP, METAR,
TAF etc).
3) Weather
charts and model outputs.
The broadcast covers large areas of Middle-East and
South-East Asia at a down link frequency of 1467-1492 MHz.
(v)
Current weather display system
PC-based current weather display facilities have been
provided at Kolkata, Delhi Chennai,and Mumbai
International airports for transmission of information to various Air Traffic
Points. The information is displayed automatically at the various Air Traffic
Points.
(vi) Other Telecommunication Facilities
The Department also avails of the microwave links of
Railways, Wireless link of the Police and Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication
Network (AFTN) of the Airport Authority of India (NAD) to communicate warnings
to the user agencies on disastrous events such as cyclones, floods, storm surge
etc.
(vii)
Dissemination of warnings
Apart from being the means of exchange of
meteorological data, the telecommunication links are also used for
dissemination of warinings. Coastal Radio Stations maintained by DOT disseminate
warnings to ships on high seas while A.I.R./Doordarshan disseminate
warnings for general public, fisheries and other users.
(viii)
Telefax facility
Telefax facilities have been provided at important
meteorological offices for transmission/reception of weather information. This facility has been extended to
CDR/CWC/M.C. Stations. Very soon these will be replaced by other
telecommunication facilities.
(ix)
VHF/Walkie-Talkie facility
Walkie-Talkies have been provided at
National/International Airports and other stations for real time exchange of
Runway visibility range meteorological information for safe aircraft
flights. VHF facility
have been provided to additional stations for exchange of meteorological
information.
(x)
VSAT Network
VSATs have been installed at selected Seismological
Observatories, Cyclone Detection Radar Stations, Cyclone Warnings Centres
(CWC/ACWC), Meteorological Centres and at some other important Observatories
where no reliable communication system exist.
This network of VSATs operates utilizing communication transponders of
INSAT.
(xi)
Data through Internet :
At NMTC, current meteorological
observational data is available on FTP server and can be accessed by authorized
users.
4.2.2
Website of IMD
IMD’s
website (http://www.imd.ernet.in)
is operational since 1st june, 2000. All the
forecasting products like charts, warnings, satellite imageries, rainfall
information are placed and timely updated in
IMD’s website. Another website http://www.imd.gov.in
is also operational. The Regional Meteorological Centers
are also having their own websites.
4.2.3
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System
Popularly known as ‘Weather on telephone’ the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) was started by the NMTC with effect from July, 2000. One can access current weather and forecast for major Indian cities by dialing a convenient 4 digit telephone number, 1717. This is the easiest way for a common man to know the weather of a place of his choice at the cost of one local call.
4.2.4 SADIS data reception
A SADIS (Satellite Dissemination System) receive only system is in operation since November 1999. All the data and products received through it are being routed to the four AMSSs for National and International flight briefing.
4.2.5 Training in Meteorological
Telecommunication
The
Telecommunication Training Centre at New Delhi, which was established in
September 1977, is one of the international training centres recognized by the
WMO. This centre imparts training in the
field of telecommunication to the departmental as well as foreign trainees
sponsored under various technical programmes.
This centre has trained large number of departmental trainees as well as
foreign trainees sponsored by WMO. So
far this centre has trained 787 departmental trainees and 99 foreign
trainees. They receive training under
ITEC, SCAAP, WMO, Colombo plan, UNDP etc.
The centre conducts the following regular courses:
1.
Level -I Course in Met. Telecom (O-Level) – 3 months
duration.
2. Level
-II Course in Met. Telecom (Middle Level) – 3 months duration.
3. Level-
III Course in Met. Telecom (Higher level) – 6
months duration.
4. Short
term course in PC applications – Four weeks duration.
In addition to regular courses 8 weeks course for
directly recruited Meteorologist Grade-II (Gr-A) is also conducted as and when
fresh recruitments are made in this cadre.
Refresher courses of small durations are also organized from time to
time to meet the immediate service requirements of the department.
To keep pace with the fast computerisation of
telecommunication facilities and development in the field of networking a
scheme has been undertaken to modernize the centre with latest communication
software and audio-visual aids under which ten numbers of computer work
stations have been installed for imparting training in PC applications.
In view of advancement of technology in
telecommunication two weather data receive and analyse system (WEDRAS) are installed
for imparting the training concerned with procedure of processing and analyzing
the met. data in the form of imageries, raw data,
charts under GTS received through
Satellite.
4.2.6 International
Meteorological Telecommunication – Regional Telecommunication Hub, New Delhi.
Under the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) organised as part of the World Weather Watch Plan of W.M.O., New Delhi is functioning as a Regional Telecommunication Hub (RTH) on the Main Telecommunication Network (MTN) connecting the two World Meteorological Centres, Moscow directly and Washington via Tokyo. The automated centre of RTH New Delhi is thus the Principal Meteorological Telecommunication Centres in South Asia and its zone of responsibility extends from Saudi Arabia in the west to Thailand in the East and the adjoining sea areas. It collects observational data from these areas and feeds them on to the Global Telecommunication System for Global and Regional Exchange. Other Meteorological services in the Middle East and South East Asia also depend for their data requirements on RTH, New Delhi. Accordingly, it maintains telecommunication circuits with Moscow, Tokyo, Cairo, Jeddah, Beijing, Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Tehran, Karachi, Male, Yangon and Kathmandu.
(iii)
Digital Satellite Broadcasts
India Meteorological Department is operating its Broadcast service through ASIA STAR satellite of World Space. GTS data, Satellite imageries and Forecast charts and model outputs are broadcast using multicast system.
4.2.7 Automation of R.T.H. New Delhi
India Meteorological
Department has further modernised its National Meteorological Telecommunication
Centre (NMTC) with a new state-of-the-art switching computer which has
capabilities comparable with any advanced WMO Centres on the GTS (Global
Telecommunication System).. The whole system has been
designed to handle 128 channels (64 low speed + 64 medium speed channels or all
128 medium speed). The system is capable of handling 2200 Mbytes of
data/information everyday. The system
has many advanced facilities like handling VSAT links, Dial-up Telex, handling
Metfax, Auto Fax in, Auto Fax out facility, Data Modem-in, Data Modem-out,
exchange of T4 fax and handling sea area bulletins (under Global Maritime
Distress & Safety System). RTH, New
Delhi is connected to Super Computer Centre NCMRWF through Optical fibre link
to transmit GTS data and also has been connected to NHAC CYBER Computer.Message
Switching computers are also operational at the major International airports
viz. Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Guwahati. The circuits linking
Under the new marine meteorological broadcast system GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress Safety System) of WMO/IMO, two bulletins are broadcast at 0900 UTC and 1800 UTC everyday through INMARSAT safety Net system. Additional bulletins are broadcast during cyclone period.
4.3 INSTRUMENTATION
4.3.1
(a) The
Hydrogen Factory at
(b) Workshop
at
Repair
and maintenance of pilot balloon & optical theodolites are also carried
out. Manufacture of accessories for the pilot balloon observation & wind
observations in lower troposphere is also taken up. Wooden stevenson screen
(Single & double) which are used to house surface meteorological
instruments like thermometer, are manufactured in workshop.
Workshop
is taking active part in celebration of national functions by arranging balloon
release programme on Republic Day at Rajpath and Independence Day at Red Fort
where the President & the Prime Minister are participating.
(c) The
Workshop at Pune manufactures ozone sondes, radiometer sondes and surface
instruments, such as anemometers, wind vanes and self recording instruments
such as anemographs, thermographs and barographs, instruments for data
collection platforms and current weather instrument systems. Pune Workshop also
provides support in the installation of surface and current weather instruments
at field stations.
(a) Maintenance
of various ground equipment (1680 MHz) Inter Met. System, 1500 Radio
theodolites, SAMEER make 401 MHz Radiotheodolites and Digital Electronics make
401 MHz, Radiosonde Ground Equipment installed at 34 Radiosonde /Radiowind and
01 Radiosonde in the Upper air network are being done by upper air laboratory
at
(b) Maintenance
and servicing of airport instruments, surface instruments, data collection platforms
and radiation instruments in the network is being done by the Laboratories at
Pune, besides procurement of various components/items needed for maintenance
and production. Stations are also
inspected regularly to ensure their proper functioning.
(c) 20
High Wind Speed Recording systems state of art are installed at east and west
coast of India for monitoring high wind speed and direction during cyclone are
being maintained.
4.3.4 Calibration
and Testing
(a) All
the baroswitches manufactured in Delhi Workshop are calibrated in an
environmental chamber in the Calibration Laboratory at
(b) Calibration
and testing of surface instruments such as thermometers, barometers, wind
vanes, anemometers, self recording instruments etc. are done in the Surface
Laboratory at Pune.
In addition to testing, calibration
and repairs of the Surface Meteorological instruments received from
departmental observatories, meteorological instruments received from
non-departmental parties / private manufacturers are also being tested and
calibrated on payment basis.
Test Chamber for manufacturing and
calibration of Hygristers has been installed in Hygrister Lab. of IMD at
4.3.5 Special
Projects
(a)
For upper air radiosonde observations on
Oceanographic Research Vessel SAGAR KANYA, necessary equipment and flight
accessories are provided and observations taken by departmental personnel.
(b)
For upper air Radiosonde / Radio wind
observations for Antarctic Expedition at base station Maitri (Antarctica)
necessary equipment and flight accessories are provided and observations taken
by departmental personnel.
(c)
Under the Voluntary Co-operation
programme of WMO, Radiosondes are supplied to Sri-Lanka for taking Radiosonde
Observations.
(d)
Under Mountain Meteorology Project in
Himalayan region (PARVAT) three RS/RW observatories have been commissioned at
Manali, Jammu and Sasoma, two Mini Ectrolyser for production of hydrogen gas
commissioned at Jammu and Manali in February, 2003 three latest state of art
Radiotheodolites have been procured for RS/RW stations at Manali , Jammu and
Sasoma. Also under the same Project twenty two Automatic Weather Stations were
installed in Sub Himalayan region for continuously monitoring the Surface
meteorological Observations.
(e)
Special observation of Radar and Upper
Air radiosonde are arranged for scientific programme like ARMEX, BOBMEX etc.
4.3.6
Some of the important instruments
manufactured by the Department are listed below :
(a)
All types of surface meteorological
instruments.
(b)
Radiosonde/Radio wind (401 MHz and 1680
MHz) balloon-borne instruments and ground equipment for the measurement of
pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, ozone concentration
and net infrared radiative fluxes in the upper atmosphere.
(c)
Design and fabrication of suitable
instruments for the Automatic Weather Stations under INSAT-I.
(d)
Design, development and fabrication of
special instruments for the measurement of temperature, humidity, wind speed,
wind direction and ozone for the Antarctic Expedition. Ten sets of Ultrasonic
type High Wind Speed Recorders were installed at Puri, Chandbali, Balasore,
4.4
SEISMOLOGY
India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal
agency of Government of
4.4.1 National Seismological Network (NSN)
The department at present, maintains a national seismological
observatory network consisting of 47 permanent observatories and 4
observatories in
4.4.2
Central Receiving Station and
National Seismological Data Base Centre (NSDC)
A Central Receiving Station (CRS)
has been set up at IMD headquarters in
The Division supplies a number of
seismicity related reports for specific regions for establishment of industrial
units, powerhouses etc and provides consultancy services to various state and
central government agencies on earthquake related matters. All correspondence
related to earthquake prediction, disaster management, supply of seismological
data to various national and international organizations including research and
academic institutions, river valley projects, etc are also undertaken.
4.4.3 Brief on “Real Time Seismic Monitoring
Network” being set up by IMD as part of Tsunami Warning System.
Introduction
In the aftermath of the Great Sumatra
Earthquake of 26th December, 2004 Government of India has initiated
actions for setting up an Early Warning System for Tsunamis and Storm surges in
the Indian Ocean. The proposed system
will help in providing advance warnings of Tsunamis and Storm surges likely to
affect the coastal areas of the country.
The project is designed to be implemented through a multi-institutional
participation. A National Tsunami
Warning System has been established at Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, which has been identified as the
nodal organization under MoES for all activities related with the issue of
Early Warning for Tsunamis. Apart from
INCOIS, the various other Departments/ organisatin under MoES which are
involved in this endeavor are IMD (setting up of RTSMN), ICMAM (Inundation
mapping, Coastal vulnerability mapping and Tsunami Modeling), and NIOT
(deployment of DART System, Automatic tide/ gauges etc.), the other
organizations like Survey of India (Tide Gauge Network), Department of Space
(INSAT Communication plan and Coastal Topographic Mapping), CSIR laboratories
and MHA are also participating in this project.
Real Time Seismic Monitoring Network (RTSMN)
As part of the Early Warning System for Tsunamis and
Storm Surges in Indian Ocean being set up by Government of India, a 17 station
Real Time Seismic Monitoring Network (RTSMN) is being established by India
Meteorological Department (IMD). The
network is designed to monitor, report, in least possible time, the occurrence
of earthquakes capable of generating Tsunamis from the two probable
Tsumanigenic sources viz. the Andaman Nicobar Sumatra Island are region and the
north Arabian Sea area. The data from
the 17 Broadband seismic field stations will be transmitted simultaneously in
real time through V-SAT communication facilities to the Central Receiving
Stations (CRSs) located at IMD New Delhi and INCOIS, Hyderabad for processing
and interpretation. The CRSs are equipped with state of art computing hardware,
communication, data processing, visualization and dissemination
facilities. The earthquake information
shall be disseminated through various communication channels to all concerned
user agencies in a fully automated mode
The
RTSMN system, when made fully operational, would be able to provide earthquake
information within 10 minutes, of the occurrence of events of Tsunamigenic
potential. The system is expected to be
fully operational by the end of February, 2008.
4.4.4 National Seismological Bulletin
The Seismolgy Division publishes a
monthly National Seismological Bulletin, containing the phase data and the
processed information on epicentral parameters of all earthquakes located by
the National Seismological Network. The bulletin is periodically sent to
International Seismological Centre (ISC) for incorporation in the ISC’s
Seismological Bulletin, which contains data from all global stations.
4.4.5.
International Collaboration in Seismology
4.4.6 Indo-Russian Centre for Earthquake Research
An
Indo-Russian Centre for Earthquake Research (IRCER) has been established in
India Meteorological Department. This is corollary to the signing of an MOU on
12.11.2003 by the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government
of India and the president of the
4.4.7 Seismology Training
The Division organizes periodical
training programs/refresher courses to station operators with emphasis on
operation and maintenance of analog and digital seismograph systems. Apart from
officers and staff of the department, persons sponsored by other institutions
and laboratories also attend these training courses.
4.4.8 Seismology Workshop
Development and manufacture of
seismological instruments and accessories is undertaken in the departmental
workshop. Besides catering to the needs of the national observatories, the
department also makes a limited supply of seismological instruments to other
institutions.
Bureau of Indian Standards [IS-1893 –
part – 1: 2002], based on various scientific inputs from a number of agencies,
has grouped the country into four seismic zones viz. Zone-II, - III, - IV-V
(fig. 12). Of these, zone V is the most seismically active region, while zone
II is the least.
4.4.10 Research and Development
The upgradation of seismological
observatories of IMD’s national network through deployment of state-of-the-art
digital seismograph systems and systematic archival of digital data at National
Seismological Database Centre has created an atmosphere Conducive to carry out
various research investigations on Seismology related topics. The upgraded
seismological network has generated very useful and unique digital broadband
and strong motion data sets for several significant earthquakes in the last
decade including the Bhuj earthquake of
4.4.11 Special Services offered by Seismology
Division
(1) IMD
provides data and relevant information pertaining to earthquakes to various
users agencies including material for parliament questions, seismicity reports
for river valley projects and dams etc.
(2) The
division carries out micro-earthquake surveys for monitoring of aftershocks,
Swarm type seismic acitivities and
site response studies by deploying portable seismograph systems in the affected areas.
(3) Provide
consultancy service to various State and Central Government organizations in
making policy guidelines relating to seismology and establish new seismological
observatories.
(4) Provide
training to station operators in the operation and maintenance of seismographs
of various kinds and data processing and analysis.
(5) Development
and manufacture of analog seismological instruments and accessories is
undertaken in the departmental workshop. Besides catering to the needs of the
national observatories, the organization also makes a limited supply of
seismological instruments to other institutions.
(6) Exchange
of seismic data with National and International agencies & Publications of
Seismological Bulletin.
4.4.12 Projects under implementation
1. As a part
of the proposed Tsunami Warning System being established for the
2. The
National Seismological Network is being upgraded as part of up gradation program.
3. The
exaction national Seismological Database Centre is being upgraded to meet the
increased requirements of data analysis, information dissemination and
archival.
4. An
Indo-Russian Center for Earthquake Research (IRCER) has been established in IMD
to coordinate and monitor various collaborative projects in Seismology being
implemented by various institutions under the Integrated Long Term Programme
(ILTP) of DST for cooperation between
4.4.13 Central Seismological Observatory (C.S.O.
Shillong)
Central Seismological Observatory,
Shillong was established in the year 1952. At present SEISMOLOGY, METEOROLOGY,
and RADIATION units are functioning there.
4.4.14(i) Seismology
Round the clock watch in seismology
unit has been started w.e.f. 24.4.1989 and seismic data are now being
transmitted to Seismo. HQ,
Recording of ground deformation with
the help of GPS is continued from December, 2001.
Control unit and light sources
required for photographic recorders are being manufactured in the Work-Shop.
4.4.14(ii) Meteorology
Meteorological observatory at CSO
Shillong was established in the year 1957. Two (2) main synoptic observations
are being taken now and autographic recording of Met. Parameters for Pressure, Temperature,
Humidity, Rainfall and Evaporation are also being done. Met. data of 3UTC and
12UTC synoptic observations are now being transmitted to RMC, Guwahati, DGM,
Radiation unit was established in
August, 1966 with installation of “Bimetallic Pyranograph but the recording of
global and diffused solar radiation started in February, 1967. Pyrheliometer/
Pyrogeometer observations also started in February, 1967.
4.4.15 EARTHQUAKE RISK EVALUATION CENTRE (EREC)
Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre (EREC) has been established in India Meteorological
Department in 2004, with the objective to guide in national endeavor in
mitigating the disastrous impacts of earthquakes and undertake/promote the
following specific tasks related to earthquake risk evaluation:
Thus, the Seismic Hazard
Microzonation &Risk evaluation are the cardinal activities of the Center.
In order to
achieve the above goal a state-of-the-art Data Hub cum computing facility would
have to be established. This Data centre or Hub known as “EDAKH”(EREC Data
centre and Knowledge products Hub) has been designed based on emerging Data
centre Technology of today which focuses
on “Grid Computing “ Technology rather than the older fashioned client-server
Technology. Basic requirements of EDAKH are – availability, accessibility,
scalability and reliability. In order to accomplish this, powerful Hardware
like blade servers based on Itanium-2 processors, industry standard grid
products such as Oracle Data base 10g, Oracle Application server 10g and Oracle
Enterprise Manager 10g along with Robotic storage have been planned for .This
Hub, when fully operational, will be first of its kind in the country for
collation, analysis, storage, archival and dissemination/ access of earthquake
related disaster and risk data base cum knowledge products.
EREC
has been contributing towards Microzonation studies in the country
Benefits to be accrued:
Knowledge products to be generated by EREC have far
reaching benefits to the society and the country. Some of the major
beneficiaries are :
Various Govt. and semi-Govt. organizations/institutions
engaged in Disaster management and mitigation .,Civic authorities & fire
and emergency management services, Heath agencies, Town planners and Builders,
Defence establishments, Law & order management authorities, Insurance
sectors, Heavy industries and above all the general public at large.
The following projects have been
earmarked / undertaken by EREC:
A .Seismic
Hazard Microzonation of
· Short term
goal
Formulation of base map,
Collation of data on Geology, Geomorphology, Quaternary geology &
Geotechnical characterization
Generation of new data base
on Geotechnical parameters (SPT, CPT)
Land use and Land cover
mapping
Site Response studies;
Preparation of first level
Seismic Hazard Microzonation map
·
Long
term goal
Study
& interpretation of Remote sensing data creation of new data base on Shear
Wave velocity and geotechnical attributes on soil typologies (Field and
laboratory studies)
Collation and interpretation
of data
Integration of data in GIS
format, analysis and interpretation for generating Seismic Hazard and Risk Microzonation maps
of
B. Seismic Risk Microzonation of Jabalpur and disaster
Mitigation planning in consultation with Local Self Government
· Short term
goal
Up
gradation of Seismic hazard maps including additional probe holes on SPT/CPT,
Site response studies, generation of ground response data, documentation and
publication of report
Study
and analysis of remote sensing data and preparation of footprint map of
·
Long
term goal
Continued
Engineering seismological studies and numerical modeling for ground response
validation
Integration
of Hazard and Engineering seismological data in GIS format and interpretation
&. Preparation of Seismic Risk Microzonation of Jabalpur and providing
inputs for preliminary planning of disaster mitigation.
Procurement / acquisition and
establishment of EREC Database and Knowledge products & Advisory Hub
(EDAKH) including EREC Website
· Short term
goal
Finalization
and approval of specification, Completion of Capital works
Procurement of Hardware and
Software
Creation of EREC Website
Installation of EDAKH
Commissioning and acceptance
testing
· Long term
goal
Integration with present IMD
Data Network and other national agencies / users
C. Methodology
for Microzonation: standardization and preparation of manual
· Short term
goal
Generation of documents with
inputs from experts of multidiscipline involved in Microzonation
· Long term
goal
Editing of scripts,
codification and printing of the manual on Microzonation
D. Creation
of national database for seismic hazard and regional risk appraisal
· Short term
goal
Collation of multi thematic
data and digitization of maps
Customization and integration
ion of multi thematic data in GIS Base
· Long term
goal
Generation of module for
Seismic hazard and Risk Information; Commissioning and testing of the system
Generation of module for Seismic
hazard and Risk Information; Commissioning and testing of the system
E. Pattern
identification of Seismicity in different tectonic domains of
· Short term
goal
Collation of Seismological
and tectonic data and Digitization of map
· Long term
goal
Pattern identification based
on Time series Analysis and fractural based studies
Staff:
Twenty
(20) posts were approved for effective functioning of
EREC.
These posts are:
Chief Scientist One
(Vacant)
Scientists Six
(Three vacant)
Visiting Fellows Four
(One Vacant)
Research Associates Nine
(Seven vacant)
As a local arrangement,following two units are
attached with EREC:
1.
2.
Micro Earthquake Survey (MEQ)Unit
Delhi Telemetry and Local Network
Responsibilities
and Activities
Brief Network
Details
A
sixteen element VSAT based digital seismic array around

4.5 SATELLITE
METEOROLOGY
4.5.1 INSAT
Data Reception and Processing :
India Meteorological Department is receiving
and processing meteorological data from Kalpana-I, INSAT-3A and NOAA series of
satellites for meteorological analysis and weather forecasting. Kalpana-I was
launched on 12th September, 2002 and is presently located at 74o
E. INSAT-3A was launched on 10th April, 2003 and is located at 93.5o
E.
There is another
satellite named INSAT-2 E similar to INSAT-3 A, which was launched on
One
uplink station for Digital Meteorological Data Dissemination and one downlink
station have been installed at New Delhi for dissemination of Satellite
imageries, Synoptic Data and analyzed weather charts under the scheme
“Procurement of 40 Nos. Digital Meteorological Data Dissemination (DMDD)
equipment and uplink equipment”.
One
GPS receiving system alongwith the computation server has been installed at
IMD, New Delhi for computation of Integrated Precipitable Water Vapour (IPVV)
under the scheme of “Establishment of 5 GPS receivers for monitoring of IPWV”.
4.5.2 INSAT Meteorological Data Processing System (IMDPS):
IMDPS is also capable of processing
meteorological data from unmanned Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) and supports
all operational activities on round the clock basis. The DCP stations located
in the remote and inaccessible areas record and store hourly data and transmit
the same to ground processing system using INSAT Data Relay Transponders (DRT).
However, limited number of stations are currently operational with DRT on board
Kalpana-I satellite. Cloud Imagery Data is processed and transmitted to
forecasting offices of the Deptt. as well as to the other users.
Apart from generating
cloud imagery, IMDPS has the capability of deriving meteorological products
from the data received. The products include:
(a)
Cloud Motion Vectors (CMVs) are
derived using three consecutive half hourly images from the operational
Kalpana-I Satellite CMVS are generated at 00 hour UTC using Infra red imagery
(b)
Sea surface Temperatures (SST’s)
are computed from INSAT-IR imagery for 00 and 12 hrs UTC. SST are also computed
from NOAA satellites using multi channel alogrithm.
(c)
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) at 1.00
Grid is computed from INSAT-IR data on 3 hourly/daily/weekly/monthly basis.
(d)
Quantitative Precipitation Estimates
(QPE) are generated at 1.00 Grid from INSAT-IR imagery on 3
hourly/daily/weekly/monthly basis.
(e)
Atmospheric soundings are
generated from US Polar Orbiting series of NOAA series satellites. They include
temperature profiles and standard level geopotentials.
4.6 AGRICULTURAL
METEOROLOGY
The Agricultural Meteorology Division at Pune caters
to the needs of agriculturists and conducts research in the field of
agricultural meteorology. The main
functions of the Division are :-
(i) Conducts
experiments and evolve techniques for better understanding of processes by
which weather and climate affect crop growth and yield and the incidence of
crop pests and diseases.
(ii) Advise
farmers by weather forecasts relevant to agricultural operations.
(iii) Supply
of processed climatic data to end users for planning agricultural strategy.
(iv) Providing
technical assistance to various Agricultural departments, Agricultural
universities, Research Institutes for establishment, maintenance and inspection
for smooth running of their Agromet. Observatories starting and inspection of
soil moisture observatories and logistic, maintenance of departmental
evapotranspiration observatories.
(v) Studies
of inter-relation between crop pests and diseases and concurrent weather
parameters in collaboration with Agricultural Universities/ Research Institutes
with a view to forewarn of their outbreaks/spread on the basis of forecasted
weather parameters.
(vi) Act
as liaison between meteorological department and State Agricultural Departments
and Agricultural Research Institutes and advise them on meteorological aspects
of agricultural problems.
(vii) Conducts the training courses for Observers (from Agromet
Observatories) , students, lecturers, scientists/research scholars (from
Agricultural Universities and state/central research institutes) , foreign
personnel under WMO, Colombo Plan, UNDP etc. and departmental group ‘A’ and
group ‘B’ officers and staff.
(viii) Carry out quantitative pest observations in the
experimental crop field in collaboration with Agricultural Universities for
developing weather based forewarning models for the incidence of pest on an
operational basis.
(ix) Development
of pest weather calendar for various pests for operational crop protection.
Preparation of revised crop weather calendars for the important crops grown in
various districts of the country. These calendars comprise of Agriculturist’s
requirement of various weather warning and life history and mean dates of
important epochs of crop growth.
(x)
Studies on water use by crop and its
irrigation planning for dry farming tract in
4.7 HYDROMETEOROLOGY
The Hydromet Division at
(1)
Rainfall Monitoring Unit
(2)
Design Storm Unit
(3)
Storm Analysis Unit
(4)
Flood Met. Unit
(5)
Glaciology Unit
(6)
Water Balance Unit
(7)
Hydrology Project Unit
(8)
Central Hydromet Observatory
(9)
International Hydrology Programme
(10)
Project
“PARVAT”
The main activities in this discipline are as follows
:
Real time monitoring of district
wise daily rainfall, continuous built up of rainfall statistics,
hydrometeorological studies for
different river catchments with a view to estimate Standard Project Storm
(SPS), Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP), Time distribution of rainfall storm,
Intensity-frequency Analysis of rainfall which is used by design engineers for
construction of Dams, railways, road bridges, culverts etc. for different
Central and State Government organisations, N.T.P.C., N.H.P.C. and D.R.D.O.. It also provides meteorological support for
flood warning and flood control operations by the field units of Central Water
Commission.
Hydromet Division also participates
regularly in glacier expeditions to take meteorological observations for
snowmelt glaciological studies. A
multi-agency, World Bank aided Hydrology Project has been undertaken for
standardisation and strengthening of observational network to create a quality
data base of Peninsular India. A Central
Hydrometeorological Observatory also functions in Hydromet Division,
A Hydrology Section also functions
at Pune for rainfall registration and rainfall climatology. There are five small Hydromet Units at the
five Regional Meteorological Centres for organisation and inspection of
raingauge stations.
4.8 CLIMATOLOGICAL ORGANISATION
The
Climatological Division of office of the Additional Director General of
Meteorology (Research), Pune and the Climatological Units at the Regional
Meteorological Centres and Meteorological Centres at State Capitals are
entrusted with climatological functions.
Scrutiny and processing of meteorological observations for assimilation
into the departmental archives are the principal functions of the climatological
services. They are meant to provide
meteorological statistics required for agriculture, irrigation, industries and
other nation-building activities.
Various climatological publications, Normals for the observatory
stations, 10-day wind averages were brought out and updated from time to time.
4.8.1 National
Data Centre (NDC)
National Data Centre (NDC), Pune is the sole
custodian of the meteorological data meticulousily collected over the last 125
years. The Climatological information is
a national heritage and is being preserved at NDC very carefully.
The meteorological data collected by
observatories all over
4.9 AVIATION
METEOROLOGY
Aviation Meteorological offices are mostly at airports
to meet the requirement of aviation service. There are at present 71 Current
Weather Observatories including 18 Aviation Forecasting (AFOs) Offices where
different types of forecasts such
as aerodrome forecasts,
trend forecasts, flight forecasts are
issued to serve aviation needs. 14 (AFOs) are functioning at National
Airports. 4 AFOs are functioning at
International Airports at Mumbai, Kolkata,
One Regional Area Forecast Centre is
situated in
4.10 IMD
COMPUTER CENTRE,
The Computer Center of NHAC is equipped with Computer
System Altix-350 and Origin-200. The computer system Altix-350 was installed
after the phasing out of Cyber 2000U computer system to cater the essential and
ongoing operational requirements of NHAC. The Altix-350 (2 CPU, 2 GB RAM, 73 GB
HDD, one plotter) system along with Work Station (Intel 2.8 GHz Processor) is
being used for processing real-time incoming Global Telecommunication System
(GTS) data and plotting of various operational charts. The data files generated
in the workstations are also used for running the limited area analysis and
forecast system. The other server Origin-200 (2 CPU, 2 GB RAM, 270 MHz
processor) is used for running NWP models.
IMD has been using a Limited Area Model (LAM) on
operational basis to issue forecast valid upto 48 hours based on 0830 and 1730
hours IST initial conditions. First guess field as well as lateral boundary
conditions are being taken from the outputs of T-80, a global spectral model
being run at
IMD’s own web site is being regularly updated from IMD
computer centre to give Weather information like limited Area analysis and 24
hours forecast products, daily weather bulletins and forecast (Text) for all
regions including special weather warning such as Tropical Cyclones, heavy
rainfall etc.
4.11 POSITIONAL
ASTRONOMY CENTRE (PAC)
The Centre issues the following 16 publications
annually:-
(i)
Indian Astronomical Ephemeris (IAE)
(ii)
Tables of Sunrise & Sunset and
Moonrise & Moonset
(iii)
Rashtriya Panchang in 14 languages viz.
Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi,
Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi (Gurmukhi), Tamil and Telugu.
The Indian
Astronomical Ephemeris contains about
600 pages of astronomical data on the positions of Sun, Moon, Planets, Bright
Stars, contains a section on the National Calendar of India (Saka Calendar)
with the timings of Tithis, Nakshatras etc. and the festival dates. The
publication is now in its 47th issue. Rashtriya Panchang is a popular publication brought out with the
aim to provide a standard unified Calendar for the whole country and to promote
a scientific basis for Panchang calculation.
The Centre meets the specific data requirements of a
large number of user agencies. Lunar data for prediction of tides are computed
for the Survey of India, Sun’s daily path for orientation of large civil
construction/projects are computed for Civil Engineers. Architects and large
public meetings, Solar positions for aligning radar and for antennas for
communications, Railway and Air Force engineers and for Antarctica Expeditions,
Pole Star data for aligning radio transmitters, times of rising-setting
phenomena for a large number of places for newspapers, judiciary, religious
bodies, defence and scientific bodies, eclipse phenomena for scientific
researchers and general public etc. The centre is the national agency for
attending to all matters concerning Calendar. it determines the dates of
festivals of all communities in
4.12 PUBLICATIONS
& LIBRARIES
4.12.1 Publication
The
publications include memoris of IMD, scientific Monographs, Weather Reviews,
Scientific & Technical Notes and Reports, Climatic Atlases & Charts, Climatological
Tables, Forecasting manuals and other miscellaneous publications. A large
number of brochures have also been published highlighting the activities of the
Department.
Periodical
Weather reports are also published as a part of public weather services to help
to manage irrigation and Agriculture, Floods, Surface transport, Navigation,
Aviation and to cater to various public works departments, research
organizations and the general public. The list of periodicals is given below:
LIST
OF PERIODICALS PUBLICATION
|
S.NO |
TITLE |
ISSUED BY |
|
1. |
MAUSAM
(Quarterly Indian Journal of Meteorology, Hydrology & Geophysics) |
DGM, |
|
2. |
Indian
Daily Weather Report (IDWR) |
DDGM(WF),
Pune |
|
3. |
Regional
Daily Weather Report (RDWR) |
Regional
Meteorological Centre |
|
4. |
State
Daily Weather Report (SDWR) |
Meteorological
Centres at State Capitals |
|
5. |
Weekly
Weather Report (WWR) |
DDGM(WF),
Pune |
|
6. |
All
|
DDGM(WF) |
|
7. |
Marine
Climatological Summaries (Annual), (Decadal) |
ADGM(R),
Pune |
|
8. |
Disastrous
Weather Events (Annual) |
ADGM(R),
Pune |
|
9. |
Indian
Astronomical Ephemeris (Annual) |
PAC
Kolkata |
|
10. |
Rashtriya
Panchang (in 14 languages ) (Annual) |
PAC
Kolkata |
|
11. |
Table
of Sunrise & Sunset and Moonrise & Moonset (Annual) |
PAC
Kolkata |
|
12. |
Seismological
Bulletin (Monthly) |
DGM,
|
|
13. |
Climate
Diagnostic Bulletins (Monthly/ Seasonal) |
ADGM(R),
Pune |
|
14. |
Special
Daily Weather Report (During monsoon) |
HQ(NHAC),
|
|
15. |
Weekly
Weather Report |
HQ(NHAC),
|
|
16. |
RSMC
Report on Cyclonic Distrubances in the |
HQ(NHAC),
|
|
17. |
Annual
Snow fall Summery |
ADGM(
R ) Pune |
4.12.2 Research Journal
MAUSAM is a quarterly research
journal being published by India Meteorological Department since January 1950.
This was originally called the Indian Journal of Meteorology, Hydrology and
Geophysics, then later called the Indian Journal of Meteorology, Hydrology and
Geophysics and was finally named MAUSAM in 1979.
4.12.3 Awards
The Government of India instituted a
Biennial “MAUSAM” Award in 1960 comprising of a Citation and cash award worth Rs.
35,000/- (Rupees Thirty Five Thousand only) to each author. The award is given to the Indian/Foreign
scientists for the best paper on Meteorology and allied subjects published in
“MAUSAM” during a period of preceding two years.
Another Biennial Award entitled
“MAUSAM Shodh Puraskar” was instituted by Govt. of India in 1993 exclusively
for the best scientific research paper in Hindi, by the IMD official (including
retired scientists), published in MAUSAM during the preceding two years period.
The award consists of a Citation and a cash prize of Rs.10000/- (Rupees Ten
thousand only) per auther.
4.12.4 Libraries
(a) In view of publications and other increasing
information and documentation activities, the IMD library has now been renamed
as ‘National Meteorological and Seismological Documentation Centre – NMSDOC’.
It has a good collection of books, periodicals and other publications. It also
contains Audio Visual material, such as Video Cassettes on meteorological phenomena,
which are used by the trainees and other scientists of the Department. NMSDOC
provides services not only to the employees of the Department but also caters
to the needs of a large number of other institutes and the Govt. agencies, viz.
Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT, New Delhi and NCMRWF under Department of
Science & Technology, New Delhi, scientists, research scholars, students
etc. It also provides excellent information, reference and reprographic
services to the users.
NMSDOC at HQ subscribes 50 foreign
journals and 25 Indian journals. In addition it also receives journals in
exchange of Mausam and other departmental publications.
(b) ADGM(R) Pune office of this department also
maintains a good library having collection in meteorology and allied subjects.
The library subscribes to 25 foreign and 27 Indian journals. It also procures
WMO publication directly from WMO,
The library subscribes to 14 foreign and 27 Indian
journals on meteorology and related subject. Also this library procures WMO
publications directly from WMO,
4.13 TRAINING
DIVISION
The Department offers training facilities in general
meteorology, instrumentation, meteorological telecommunication and agricultural
meteorology. These are open not only to
departmental personnel but also to officers of other departments, Defence
services, Universities and to candidates from foreign countries. The training facilities of the India
Meteorological Department in Pune and
5. SERVICES
RENDERED
The Department caters to the need of a large number of
interests such as Aviation, Shipping, Fisheries, Ports, Agriculture Irrigation
& Power Projects, Flood Control, Public Works, Railways, Post &
Telegraphs, Public Health, Himalayan Expeditions, Defence Services, Industries,
Oil & Natural Gas Commission, Indian Oil Corporation and the general
public. These are briefly outlined below
:-
5.1 SERVICES
TO AVIATION
India Meteorological Department is the designated
meteorological authority to provide the necessary meteorological services for
air navigation both for National and International flights operating through
Civil Aerodroms in
IMD maintains 73 Aeronautical Meteorological Offices
(18 Class I + 55 Class III) at the international and national airport in
5.2 SERVICES
FOR SHIPPING & FISHERIES
For the benefits of the ships on high seas and coastal
and fishing craft, weather bulletins are issued for broadcast four times daily
(more often when an actual storm or depression occurs) by the Area Cyclone
Warning Centres at Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and the Cyclone Warning Centres
at Ahmedabad,
5.3 MARINE POLLUTION EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT
SYSTEM (MPERSS)
In the event of a major marine pollution incident on
high seas, the necessary meteorological support will be provided by India (IMD)
for Met. area VIII N i.e. Bay of
5.4 SERVICES TO PORTS
Meteorological
Service to ports is rendered by the Area Cyclone Warning Centres at Mumbai,
Kolkata & Chennai and the Cyclone Warning Centres at Ahmedabad,
5.5 INLAND WARNING SERVICES
The
Department has been issuing heavy rainfall warnings from 1885 to District
officials and offices of the Irrigation, Railway, Police, Telegraphs,
Agriculture, Public works and other departments. Information about anticipated rainfall
exceeding specified limits in their areas is telegraphed to these
officials. Warnings are also issued for
other weather phenomena like gales, frost, onset of monsoon etc. Over 19,000 warning messages are issued
annually.
5.6 SERVICES
TO PUBLIC
The weather services to the public are varied
according to the need of the user, but most important are the forecasts and
warnings against adverse weather. Every
AIR station has a routine programme of broadcast of weather reports in the
local language of each region. Special warnings against severe weather, like
thunderstorms and dust storms based on radar observations, are broadcast by the
AIR stations. The TV stations give
coverage for important weather events.
Weather information covering rainfall, temperature, pressure
distribution and other weather events along with the weather forecasts are
telecast daily in Hindi & English on National TV Programme. The latest cloud pictures from INSAT is also
telecast along with this information.
Many newspapers publish regional weather forecasts and local forecasts
regularly. Weather reports, forecasts
and telegraphic summaries are supplied to subscribers on request. The latest weather information is also made
available to the public through the special information service of the
telephone system at Kolkata, Mumbai,
5.7 SERVICES TO AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS
Prime
mandate of the Division is to support agriculturists, planners and all other
users by giving advance information relating to weather and crop condition for
“planning agricultural operations”, crop
yield forecast based on meteorological data, information relating to progress
of monsoon, rainfall analysis is issued for dry land farming and technical
assistance to various Agricultural Departments, Universities, Research
Institutes for establishment and smooth running of their Agromet
observatories. Agromet Advisory
Bulletins are prepared weekly/bi-weekly in consultation with the State
Agricultural experts and various subject matter specialists for the benefit of
farmers at 20 Agromet Centres in the country.
These Advisories are tailored to meet the agronomic requirements of the
farmers based on past and anticipated weather conditions. These advisories are being broadcast by AIR
stations within the concerned regions in regional languages and are also
telecast wherever the facilities exist. The Agricultural Meteorology division
prepared crop weather calendars which to use as a guiding tool for the
preparation of Farmer’s Weather Bulletin issued daily by the different
Meteorological Centres of the country.
These calendars depict the state and stage of the weather conditions and
warning to be issued based on the forecasted weather parameters. Crop weather calendars were first prepared in
1945. These calendars give in a “ready
form” of weather elements detrimental to crop in various developmental and
growth stages.
During 1965 & 1966, major parts
of
(a)
Agroclimatic and synoptic study of
Drought.
(b)
Development of formulae for forecasting
yield of principal crops in
The Drought Research Unit is functioning under the
Office of Addl. Director General of Meteorology (Research), Pune. The Drought Research Unit has taken up the
following activities to meet its objectives :-
(i) Aridity Anomaly Maps are
being prepared during
the Kharif Season(June-September)
for the whole country and for North East
Monsoon Season (October - December) for 5 Meteorological Sub-divisions, Coastal
Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu and
Pondicherry on bi-weekly basis. These
maps and reports are disseminated to the various Agromet. Advisory Services
Units and the Agricultural Specialists.
Also these bi-weekly maps and reports are being supplied to National
Remote Sensing Agency,
(ii) Services
to Agriculture and Farmers: Forecasts for rice (Kharif) and Wheat crop
production for the chief rice and wheat growing states as well as for total
(iii) A
system of daily weather broadcasts for farmers, known as Farmer’s Weather
Bulletin, has been in operation from 1945.
These bulletins are issued once a day by the Forecasting Offices,
located at Regional Centres and State Capitals for broadcast in different
regional languages through the stations of All India Radio in the evening. A second bulletin is issued for broadcast in
the morning during the rainy seasons.
The bulletins are also published in newspapers. They provide a district wise forecast of
weather during the next 40 hours, with an outlook for the following 2 days and
take into account the effects of weather on individual crops grown in their
respective regions.
During the 70’s National Commission of Agriculture
reviewed the working of the Farmer’s Weather Bulletins (FWS) and found that
these could be made more effective if they are supplemented by
Agrometeorological Advisories. The
Agrometeorological Advisory scheme envisages :-
(a) Issue of weekly or bi-weekly Agromet.
Advisories tailored
to the needs of the farmers on their field
operation.
(b) These
bulletins are prepared
in co-ordination with
the
Agricultural Expert of the State Agricultural
Departments
and the meteorologists from the AAS
Centres.
(c) The
Agromet. Advisory Services (AAS) Centres are functioning at the State Capitals at Ahmedabad,
(d) Consolidated
All
(e) All
India Monthly Weather and Crop Bulletin is prepared and sent to Economic amd
Statistical Adviser,
(iv) A
Co-ordination Committee on the above AAS scheme, consisting of the officials of
India Meteorological Department as well as Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR and
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been constituted in 1984. The Director General of Meteorology is the
Chairman and the Director, Agrimet. Division, Pune is the Member-Secretary of
this Committee.
An “Agroclimatic Atlas of
Seven Pilot Balloon Observatories are functioning in
5.8 AGROMETEOROLOGY
SERVICES/TECHNOLOGY
India Meteorological Department (IMD) is collaborating
with National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) for
providing medium range weather forecast and advisories to help agriculturists
in planning agricultural operations.
Rainfall Climatology for Agricultural Planning unit
working under ADGM(R) brings out publication on commencement of sowing Rain for
various states. Analysis of a long series of rainfall data, cropping pattern
and types of soils for particular states are considered for calculating sowing
dates.
5.9 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING
FLOOD FORECASTING SERVICES
The Department is rendering assistance on
meteorological aspects in the field of Hydrology, Water management and
multipurpose river valley projects.
These services are utilised by the Central Water Commission (CWC),
Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources & Railways and Damodar Valley
Corporation (financed by the Sponsoring Organisation), Flood Control
Authorities and the State Governments.
The undermentioned special Meteorological Units are functioning in the
department to cater to the needs of specific interests:-
5.9.1 Rainfall
Monitoring Unit
Rainfall Monitoring
Unit of IMD functions in the Hydromet Division at HQ, New Delhi.
Real Time Monitoring of District
wise daily rainfall is one of the important functions of IMD. A network comprising a large number of
raingauge stations is utilised under the Districtwise Rainfall Monitoring
Scheme (DRMS). Based on the real time
daily rainfall data, weekly district- wise, sub-division-wise and state-wise
rainfall distribution summaries are prepared as a routine activity of Rainfall
Monitoring Unit. Rainfall statistics is
prepared in the form of rainfall tables and maps. The tables contain district- wise and
sub-division-wise actual, normal and percentage departures of rainfall. Maps showing weekly and cumulative rainfall
figures in 36 meteorological sub-divisions are also prepared to present a
pectorial distribution of rainfall.
Areas of excess, normal, scanty and deficient rainfall are depicted in
different colours. Subsequently, updated
weekly, monthly and seasonal rainfall distribution summaries are also prepared
regularly.
District-wise and sub-division-wise
rainfall statistics provides important information useful to the agriculture
scientists, planners and decision makers.
Therefore, this information is supplied to various Govt. agencies for
official use.
5.9.2 Design
Storm Unit
Design Storm studies are being conducted to study
rainfall magnitude and its time distribution for use as main input for the
design engineers in estimating flood for hydraulic structures, irrigation projects,
dams etc. on various rivers. The
Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) values are also evaluated for optimum
utilisation of water resources.
5.9.3 Storm
Analysis Unit
Based on
the recommendation of Khosla Committee of Engineers, a Storm Analysis Unit is
functioning to provide design estimates of short duration rainfall in different
sub zones of the country for the purpose of railway and road bridge
construction. Hydromet data for a number
of river catchments are analysed for probable maximum storms, return periods of
very heavy rainfall and run-off relationships.
The studies in respect of 24 sub-zones (out of total 26 sub-zones) have
so far been completed and the flood estimation reports for the 7 sub-zones have
been revised the work for the preparation of All India Atlas of isopluvial maps
of different return periods has been taken up. These maps can be used to derive
24 – hour rainfall estimates for specific return periods at any desired
locations throughout India.
5.9.4 Flood
Met. Unit
Consequent on the recommendations of High Level
Ministers Committee on Floods and Flood Relief in 1972, Flood Meteorological
Offices (FMO) were set up at ten locations viz., Agra, Ahmedabad, Asansol,
Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jalpaiguri, Lucknow, New Delhi and
Patna. During the flood season, FMOs
provide meteorological support to the Central Flood Forecasting Divisions
(CFFD) of Central Water Commission (CWC) by issuing Hydromet. Bulletins. FMOs keep round-the-clock watch during the
Flood Alert situations. During non-flood
season other hydrometeorological activities are carried out i.e. digitisation
of autographic rainfall charts, preparation of synoptic analogues and
hydrometeorology of the basins and inspection of raingauge stations under the
scheme is carried out. In addition,
necessary hydrometeorological support and coordination is provided to other
Govt. agencies like CWC, Brahmaputra Board, Damodar Valley Corporation etc.
S.No. F.M.O. River Catchments
1. Agra Lower
Yamuna, Chambal & Betwa
2. Ahmedabad Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati, Banas &
Daman Ganga
3. Asansol Ajay, Mayurakshi &
Kangsabati
4. Bhubaneswar Mahanadi,Brahmani,Baiterini,Bruhabalang,
Subernarekha,
Rushkulya & Vansdhara
5. Guwahati Brahmaputra & Barak
6.
7. Jalpaiguri Teesta
8. Lucknow Ganga, Ramganga, Gomti,
Sai, Rapti,
Ghagra, Sarada
9. New Delhi Upper Yamuna, Lower Yamuna, Sahibi
10. Patna Kosi, Mahananda,
Baghmati, Kamala,
Gandak and Buri Gandak, North Koel &
Kanhar, PunPun Upper sone.
5.9.5 Glaciology
Unit
To conduct glaciological studies, information on
meteorological parameters and snow accumulation in the upper watersheds of the
Himalayan rivers is being collected by ground observations. Observational network
31(thirty one) snowgauges/raingauges (21 in H.P. & 10 in Uttaranchal) which
includes one class-I and class-IV departmental observatories have been
installed in the Himalayas under glaciology scheme.
5.9.6 Water
Balance Unit
Water balance studies are being conducted in respect
of river basins taking catchment as a unit by applying the well-known
techniques of Thornthwaite method of water budgeting and mass conservation
equation of hydrological cycle. IMD
maintains coordination with the research institutions viz. NIH, NWDA and other
government organization like Central Water Commission, Central Ground Water
Board, Ministry of Water Resources.
5.9.7 Central Hydromet Observatory (CHO)
CHO is a model hydrometeorological
observatory which caters to the need of a variety of visitors. Every year, a large number of scientists,
engineers from Govt. agencies, college and school children and teachers,
general public visit CHO for general information and awareness in meteorology. Special visits are arranged on important
occasions like the World Meteorological Day (23rd March) and
National Science Day (28th February) every year.
5.10 CYCLONE WARNING SERVICES
5.10.1 The extensive
coastal belts of
It is the endeavour of India Meteorological Department
to minimise the loss of human lives and damage to properties due to tropical
cyclones by providing early warnings against the tropical cyclones. Cyclone warning is one of the most important
functions of the India Meteorological Department and it was the first service
undertaken by the department. The
cyclone warning service of the India Meteorological Department is more than a century
old. Cyclone warnings are provided by
the India Meteorological Department from the Area Cyclone Warning Centres
(ACWCs) at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai and Cyclone Warning Centres (CWCs) at
Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad.
The Complete Cyclone Warning Programme in the country is
supervised by the cyclone warning Division (CWD) at Head Quarter Ofice of the
Director General of Meteorology at New Delhi. This Division provides cyclone
warning bulletins to Doordarshan and AIR Stations at
Besides the above, the Cyclone Warning Division has
the following functions at the international level :
(a)
To serve as Regional Specialised
Meteorological Centre (RSMC) – Tropical Cyclone, New Delhi
(b)
To implement the Regional Tropical
Cyclone Operational Plan of WMO/ESCAP
Panel.
(c) To
issue daily a Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean to the Panel
Countries viz. Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Srilanka and
Thailand.
(d) To
provide Cyclone Advisories to the Panel Countries.
(e) To
issue Tropical Cyclone Advisories for International Aviation at 6- hourly
intervals
(f) To
prepare every year a comprehensive scientific report on the cyclones in the
North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea).
(g) To
prepare WMO/ESCAP Panel Annual Review and its submission to WMO for publication
and distribution.
5.10.2 The
following is the list of bulletins and warnings issued by Cyclone Warning Centres
for their respective areas of responsibility :-
(1)
Sea Area Bulletins for ships plying in
High Seas through P & T’s coastal Radio stations.
(2) Coastal
Weather bulletins for ships plying in coastal waters.
(3) Bulletins
for Global Distress and safety system (GMDSS) broadcast through Indian Coast
Earth Station.
(4) Bulletin
for Indian Navy
(5) Port
Warnings
(6) Fisheries
Warnings
(7) Four
stage warnings for State Govt. officials
(8) Bulletins
for broadcast through AIRs for general public
(9) Warning
for registered users
(10) Bulletins
for Press
(11) Warning
for Aviation (issued by concerned Aviation Meteorological Offices).
(12) Bulletins
for ships in the high seas through Navtex Coastal Radio Stations.
Cyclone warnings are communicated to Govt. officials
and other parties by Fax, high priority Telegrams, T/P’s, Telex and
Telephones. Police wireless is also used
as and when required. Telegram as a mode of communication is being phased out
and cyclone warnings are also disseminated through Satellite based DCWDS/CWDS
system in local languages in coastal areas.
The general public, the coastal,
residents and fishermen are warned through State Govt. officials and broadcast
of warnings through AIRs and DD telecast programme in national and regional
hook up. The cyclone warnings are issued
to State Govt. officials in four stages:
The first stage warning known as
“Pre-cyclone watch” issued 72 hours in advance contains early warning about the
development of a cyclonic disturbance in the North Indian Ocean, its likely
intensification into a tropical cyclone and the coastal belt likely to
experience adverse weather. This early warning bulletin is issued by the
Director General of Meteorology himself and is addressed to the cabinet
secretary and other senior officers of the Government of India including the
chief secretaries of concerned maritime states.
The second stage warning known as
“Cyclone Alert” is issued at least 48 hours in advance of the expected commencement
of adverse weather over the coastal areas. It contain information on the
location of the strom direction of its movement, intensification, coastal
districts likely to experience adverse weather and advice to fishermen. This is
issued by the concerned ACWCs/CWCs.
The third stage warning known as
“Cyclone Warning” commences at least 24 hours in advance. Landfall point is
forecast at this stage. These warning
are issued by ACWCs/CWCs at 3 hourly interval giving the latest position of
cyclone, its intensity (maximum sustained surface wind speed) and likely time
and point of landfall, impact of strong winds and heavy rain and advice to
fishermen and general public.
The fourth stage of warning known as
“Post Landfall Outlook” is issued at least 12 hours in advance of expected time
of landfall by the concerned ACWC gives likely direction of movement of the
Cyclone after its landfall and adverse weather likely to be experienced in the
areas away from the coast.
During disturbed weather over Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the ports likely to be affected are warned through
Storm Warning Signals. The Department
also issues “Fleet Forecast” for Indian Navy and coastal bulletins for Indian
coastal areas covering upto 75 Kms from the coast line.
Tropical cyclone advisories for the
cyclones forming over the area West of
65oE in the
5.10.3
Cyclone Warning Dissemination System (CWDS)
In addition to existing mode of
dissemination of cyclone warnings to various State Governments, port officials etc. through high priority
telegrams, telephones and Telex/Telefax by IMD, scheme, known as Cyclone
Warning Dissemination System (CWDS) using INSAT is also in use. This communication method is more reliable as
it does not use terrestrial links which are disrupted during severe weather
conditions.
Total number of 252 analogue CWDS
receivers have been installed in the cyclone prone areas of east and west
coasts. The cyclone warning messages are broadcast in local languages of the
area likely to be affected. Messages for
the states of West Bengal and Orissa are broadcast from ACWC Kolkata; Andhra
Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka are covered by ACWC Chennai. The broadcast for Maharashtra and Gujarat
states originate from ACWC Mumbai. 100 more Digital CWDS receivers based on
Digital Technology are also being deployed in Andhra Pradesh under the world
Bank Project in the year 2003. It is planned to replace all the 252 analogue
CWDS Receivers by the Digital CWDS till 2007 and increase the network to 400
from 350 at present.
5.10.4 Disaster
Management
The ministry of Agriculture, Government of India set up a High Powered Committee
(HPC) at the beneet of the Prime Minister of India to review disaster
management machinery in the country and to formulate a comprehensive model plan
for disaster management at the National, State and district levels. This
committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Shri J.C. Pant, former
secretary to Government of India with 11 members including DG, IMD as one of
the member. HPC framed five sub-groups to gear up the whole mechanism on
Disaster management Plan and IMD was asked to prepare the plan for sub-group on
water and climate related Hazards. Based on the inputs received from the
member, a draft report has been prepared and submitted to HPC.
In order to give quick information
on the damage potential of tropical cyclones, IMD has prepared a brochure
“Damage Potential of Tropical Cyclones”. It contains a table that shows the
impact of tropical cyclones and suggested actions. This will benefit crisis
managers and the public administrators.
Office of ADGM(R) brings out an
annual publication entitled “Disastrous Weather Events” since 1967. This
publication contains the information regarding loss of lives and damage to
agriculture/property due to disastrous weather events like cold wave, Heat
wave, snowfall, Drought, Squall, Gale, Lighting, Thunderstorms, Hail storm,
Flood & heavy rain and cyclones. Efforts are on to demarcate disaster prone
areas, for different events. This would ultimately help for the preparedness
and effective Disaster imitative planning to the concerned officials.
5.11 CLIMATOLOGICAL SERVICES
The surface and Pilot Balloon Observation, recorded at various observatories, are scrutinised and keyed in at Regional Met. Centres & Met. Centres at State Capitals. These data are then transferred to National Data Centre, Pune for processing and archival. All other types of data, viz. Radiosonde, Radiowind, Daily rainfall, Radiation etc. are scrutinised and keyed in at Pune. Modern key to floppy data entry machines are used for directly transferring the data from manuscripts to magnetic media for electronic data processing and archival. The department has approx. 9.30 billion characters of data in its archives which also includes ship’s data and rainfall data of State Raingauges for a very long period. Computation of means, normals, frequencies and other desired parameters, their analysis