No open spaces for five stations,efforts for hourly updates run into rough weather

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not been able to find enough open spaces in the city to install Automatic Weather Stations (AWS),with which it had planned to give hourly updates.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not been able to find enough open spaces in the city to install Automatic Weather Stations (AWS),with which it had planned to give hourly updates. It had managed to install five such devices in the first week of June at Magarpatta,Chinchwad,Pashan,Wadgaonsheri and Bibvewadi,but is scouting for appropriate sites for the remaining five.

We are unable to get sites and this is delaying the process. With these AWS installed,we can get hourly updates of the rainfall in that particular area. We have five more AWS to install, said deputy director general (surface instruments),IMD Pune,RD Vashishta.

With the past two-three days witnessing heavy rainfall,he said they could measure the rainfall from AWS installed at various sites. Three such devices have been functioning since last year at Shivajinagar,Pashan and Rajgurunagar. We can have five more sites. The criterion is that there should be open space; no trees for at least 10 m and no buildings up to 15 m. If we can find such sites,we can install them in two days.

According to the modernisation plan,more than 500 AWS are to be installed in various parts of the country. This would help in taking better observations in the outskirts and help better forecasting.

These stations,providing real-time picture,will be able to put up more accurate weather data. The hourly data obtained from the new sites will be uploaded on IMD website.

The AWS will give information on rainfall,temperature,mean sea level pressure,dew-point temperature,dry-bulb temperature,wind speed and wind direction. The project is expected to cost Rs 3 crore.

Sources said around 125 AWS had so far been installed in various parts of the country. Of these,105 are already providing hourly updates.

WHAT IT DOES

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* An Automatic Weather Station is portable; does not require observers

* Most are equipped with devices to transmit

information via satellite to ground stations

* It can collect data on rainfall,temperature,wind speed,wind direction & relative humidity

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