How IMD plans to boost its observational network to enhance forecast accuracy

“Keeping up with the changing technology and the requirements, IMD will incorporate emerging technologies in improving its observational capabilities,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the IMD.

What IMD is planning

Along with eight meteorological towers planned along the Northeast and the coasts, richer meteorological data will be soon available following an upgrade of 110 high wind speed recorders (at 25 km) that will be installed. The country’s six regional meteorological centres will house automated climate reference stations, which will be key for tracking weather patterns at regional scales.

With the advancements in technology and science, the IMD plans to install 150 automatic weather stations with advanced sensors powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Sensors based on AI will be installed to measure solar radiation, information which will be useful for renewable energy-related forecasts.

In a more focused effort, newer observational weather stations will require either limited power or will run on solar power. These weather stations will be particularly important for obtaining data along remote and inaccessible regions. About 100 solar and wind-powered surface observatories are planned over the next two years.

Six new calibration laboratories are planned for select regional centres to improve IMD’s in-house instrument manufacturing. The IMD currently operates instrument manufacturing workshops at its facilities in Delhi and Pune.

“These technological advancements will enable the IMD to deliver highly accurate and reliable weather forecasts and timely early warnings in an earth system science framework covering oceanic, terrestrial and atmospheric and space systems,” said M Ravinchandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.