ACROSS

Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services

ACROSS is composed of the following sub-schemes.

1. Monsoon Convection, Clouds, and Climate Change (MC4): Clouds are an integral part of monsoon convection and precipitation. Current understanding of the coupling of monsoon dynamics to convection and cloud processes is limited due to the lack of observations and inadequate representation of cloud processes in climate models. The MC4 scheme was envisioned to improve the observational database and climate models for enhanced predictive understanding of monsoonal precipitation changes and their impacts in a warming environment.
2. High Performance Computing System (HPCS): MoES is mandated to provide the nation with the best possible services of forecasting the monsoons and other weather and climate parameters, ocean state, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and other phenomena related to earth system. Improving these forecasts need high-performance computational resources, including modern supercomputers with vast parallel computing architecture with support from artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. The existing HPCS resources of 6.8 petaflops (PF) commissioned in 2018 has resulted in improved short-medium scale forecasts with the usage of high-resolution models. For further enhancing weather and climate prediction, rigorous developmental work has been undertaken at MoES institutes to provide high-resolution dynamical models with increased complexity and advanced data assimilation techniques which are highly computationally intensive.
3. Monsoon Mission (MM-II): The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, launched the National Monsoon Mission (NMM) in 2012 (now referred as Monsoon Mission, MM), with a vision to develop a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system for Indian monsoon rainfall on different time scales. In 2017, the first phase of monsoon mission (referred to as MM-I) was completed successfully. The seasonal prediction system with improved hind cast skill was handed over to IMD for operational forecasting and this modified model is referred as Monsoon Mission CFS (MMCFS). The extended range prediction system was also handed over to IMD for operational forecasting of active/break spells of monsoon and other weather events, up to 4 weeks in advance. The second phase of monsoon mission (MM-II), which began in September 2017, focuses on predicting weather/climate extremes and development of climatic applications based on monsoon forecasts, especially in the field of agriculture, hydrology and energy sector, while continuing model development activities. In MM-II, focus has been given to high-resolution short-range predictions, predicting extremes, and using forecasts to develop applications for agriculture, hydrology, disaster management, energy sector, etc.
4. Atmospheric Observations Network: The scheme Atmospheric Observations Network of IMD is a continuing scheme primarily encompassing ongoing programs in an integrated manner aimed at sustenance of observational network. The measurement of various atmospheric parameters through surface, upper air, aircraft is a prime requirement for operating the meteorological services. Several major advanced technology-based equipments have been installed over the years. The maintenance and augmentation of these equipments is essential so that the benefit of technology upgradation is available on continuous basis. IMD needs upgradation & sustenance of observational network in order to achieve accelerated progress for providing top quality meteorological services to the society. IMD has been operating and sustaining several types of observational networks all over the country for monitoring the meteorological conditions and providing the meteorological data to weather forecasting and other uses.
5. Weather & Climate Services: The scheme Weather & Climate Services of IMD is a continuing Scheme primarily encompassing ongoing programs in an integrated manner aimed at providing efficient weather and climate services across. IMD provides services to weather-sensitive sectors viz. agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, offshore oil explorations, etc. Over the years, specialized services have also been built for state-of-the-art monitoring, detection and early warning of extreme weather phenomena including tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, dust storms, heavy rains and snowfall events, cold and heat waves, etc
6. Upgradation of Forecast System: The proposed scheme Upgradation of Forecast System is aimed at improving the accuracy of weather forecasts to bring it at par with the international standards which will help many sectors like army operations, air operation, agriculture, tourism, mountaineering, aviation, roads and communications, power generation, water management, environmental studies, Sports & Adventure, Transport, Government Authorities, NGOs and Public in general.
7. Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs): IMD presently operates a radar network most of which comprises of very old technology and are based on conventional analog systems, and therefore it is becoming obsolete with respect to the current and future generation DWRs. Moreover, the conventional radar products are incompatible with present day requirements of digital data on different parameters which can be directly used as inputs to weather prediction models. Induction of an adequate number of DWRs in the network would facilitate plugging the existing gaps in the meteorological observational network of radars, desirable for effective and efficient analysis and consequent forecasting, in particular at the mesoscale. The availability of countrywide weather radar coverage and its integration, including overlapping regions of the proposed network would provide adequate warning in the event of approach of Cyclonic Storms, Monsoon Depressions, etc. It would also provide vital information for nowcasting purposes on mesoscale convective weather developments anywhere in the country. Radar observations would also stimulate research on the dynamics and microphysics of convective weather phenomena. The data from these DWRs would also help in understanding key as well as major differences between super cell storms and ordinary storms. Besides, it is desirable to have a dual polarimetric facility to obtain additional information on hydrometeors and their quantification in clouds, classification of precipitating clouds, etc.

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/atmospheric-climate-science-and-services

O-SMART

Ocean—Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology

Oceans play an essential role in almost all aspects of human existence. They also aid scientific and technological explorations and breakthroughs. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in India holds immense potential for scientific exploration with a wide variety of living and non-living resources. This contributes to the economic development of the country in a big way yielding numerous societal benefits. Research and development programmes for oceans in India were initiated by the Department of Ocean Development (DOD) which was set up in 1981. The DOD was amalgamated with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in 2006 given the importance of creating synergy between ocean development, earth sciences with atmospheric sciences and geosciences. Since then, innumerable scientific developments, field installations, demonstrations, and achievements have been accomplished by MoES in this field. It has helped develop several indigenous systems, devices, and techniques for implementing projects, under initiatives such as the Make in India. The Blue Economy embodies economic and trade activities that integrate the conservation and sustainable use and management of biodiversity, including maritime ecosystems, genetic resources, and activities that generate lower or no greenhouse gas emissions.

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/O-SMART

PACER

Polar Science and Cryosphere

The world’s polar regions and their contiguous oceans are attracting more interest than ever before. Once regarded as barren, inhospitable places where only explorers go, the north and south polar regions have been transformed into high profile sites of scientific research. Realizing the importance of Antarctica as a pedestal for scientific research, India launched the first of her Annual Scientific Expeditions to the Antarctica way back in 1981. This was followed by the country’s successful entry to the realms of Southern Ocean research in 2004 and the Arctic, three years later. To cater to the requirements of the Indian scientists in both the polar regions, two stations (Maitri and Himadri) have been established to serve as living-cum-research bases in the Antarctic and Arctic respectively.

The focus areas of scientific studies in the Arctic and the Antarctic have been largely confined to earth, atmospheric and biological sciences. As regards the studies of the cryosphere, the research initiatives by Indian scientists in the Antarctic comprise monitoring of the glaciers in Dronning Maud Land, studies of ice dynamics and energy balance and climatic reconstructions from ice core analyses. Systematic studies of the cryospheric domain of the Arctic are as yet to be initiated. PACER encompasses the following six components.

1. Construction of polar research vessel
2. Construction of the third research base in Antarctica
3. Indian scientific endeavours in the Arctic
4. Polar expeditions-Antarctica
5. Replacement of Maitri station
6. Southern Ocean

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/polar-science-cryosphere

SAGE

Seismology and Geosciences

Under the Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE) scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), several important programmes and activities are implemented by MoES with its network of institutions. SAGE includes the following six activities:

1. Seismological monitoring and microzonation
2. Geodynamics and surface processes
3. Indian Ocean: deep ocean observations and dynamics of lithospheric evolution (International Ocean Discovery Program-IODP and geoid low)
4. Scientific deep drilling in the Koynaintraplate seismic zone
5. Seismicity and earthquake precursors
6. Setting up a facility for geochronology

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/Seismology-and-Geosciences

REACHOUT

Research, Education, Training and Outreach

The primary mandate of the MoES is to provide the nation with the best possible services for weather, climate, ocean, coastal and natural hazards, sustainable harnessing of ocean resources, and exploration of the Polar regions. Therefore, it is essential to holistically address various aspects related to ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere, geosphere and biosphere processes and continuously upgrade knowledge through assimilation of new ideas and application of knowledge in the field of earth system sciences. This can be effectively done through nurturing Research and Development (R&D) in academic institutions and formulating mechanisms to translate the R&D into operational use. Moreover, the development of a skilled workforce and regular training in different fields of Earth sciences are also vital. To cater to the above-cited activities, MoES implements REACHOUT, which is an umbrella scheme of the following six sub-schemes:

1. Research and Development in Earth System Science (RDESS).
2. Outreach and awareness.
3. Knowledge Resources Center Network (KRCNet).
4. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC).
5. International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean).
6. Program for development of skilled workforce in Earth system sciences (DESK).

The first three sub-schemes are implemented by the MoES headquarters. The remaining three schemes namely BCWC, ITCOcean and DESK are implemented by MoES institutes namely National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). These sub-schemes aim to nurture research (including national and international collaboration); provide training on atmospheric science and oceanography to participants from India and neighbouring countries, and to generate awareness about various facets of Earth system science amongst students, academicians and the public.

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/research-education-training-outreach

DOM

Deep Ocean Mission

With a view to explore deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposal of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on “Deep Ocean Mission” at an estimated cost of Rs. 4077.0 crore for a period of 5 years to be implemented in a phase-wise manner. Deep Ocean Mission with be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission. The technologies required for deep sea mining have strategic implications and are not commercially available. Hence, attempts will be made to indigenise technologies by collaborating with leading institutes and private industries. A research vessel for deep ocean exploration would be built in an Indian shipyard which would create employment opportunities. This mission is also directed towards capacity development in Marine Biology, which will provide job opportunities in Indian industries.

For more details: https://moes.gov.in/schemes/dom