Atmospheric Research Testbed
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Overview
- News in Brief
- Atmospheric Research Testbed
Why in the News?
The first phase of India’s Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI) was inaugurated at Silkheda in Sehore district, located about 50 km northwest of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
News in Brief
- The monsoon trough over Central India, which comprises of monsoon core zone (MCZ), is one of the important components of the regional climate system.
- Detailed atmospheric measurements in MCZ wherein synoptic-scale disturbances (lows and depressions) often pass during monsoon were overdue.
- Considering this importance, an Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI) is established by IITM, MoES at Silkheda (50 km NW of Bhopal) for better understanding of processes governing monsoon convection.
Atmospheric Research Testbed
- The ART is an open-field, focused observational and analytical research programme at Silkheda.
- ART spread over 100 acres.
- ART has been developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for Rs 125 crore.
- The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, is in charge of the operations
- Aim of Atmospheric Research Testbed
- The facility aims to conduct ground-based observations of weather parameters like temperature, wind speeds, etc.
- In-situ (on-site) observations of the transient synoptic systems like low-pressure areas and depressions that form in the Bay of Bengal during the southwest monsoon season from June to September.
- Studying the weather parameters and their associated cloud parameters will be used to generate high volumes of data over a long period.
- It can then be compared with the existing weather models so that improvements can be made to obtain accurate rainfall predictions.
- The setup at ART will also be used for calibrating and validating various satellite-based observations, part of weather predictions and forecasting.
- How ART-CI Important?
- 45% of India’s labour force is employed in the agriculture sector.
- Much of Indian agriculture is rain-fed.
- Agriclture which spans the central India region from Gujarat to West Bengal.
- Southwest monsoon season accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s annual average rainfall (880mm).
- Throughout India, the majority of Kharif cultivation is undertaken between July and August, which see an average monthly rainfall of 280.4mm and 254.9mm (1971–2020 average), respectively.
- Studies have correlated the all-India rainfall performance to the rainfall received over the central India region, highlighting its importance.
- Various Phases of ART
- The first phase, remote sensing-based and in-situ measurements using 25 meteorological instruments has commenced.
- Second phase, ART will deploy instruments such as a radar wind profiler and balloon-bound radiosonde, and soil moisture and temperature measuring equipment.
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