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The Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Prof. V.S Ramamurthy has called for greater investment in weather forecasting technologies, designing of better and updated prediction model and special effort to bring in best scientific manpower in meteorological area. Inaugurating the 25th International Conference on Monsoon Experiment (MONEX) and Its Legacy here today, he said that monsoon prediction has undergone a sea change after the introduction of digital technology. Prof. Ramamurthy said that economic activities in the Indian sub-continent are highly dependent on the monsoon and therefore it is important for us to forecast the behaviour and pattern of the monsoon. He made a mention the successful implementation of the Indian Climate Research Programme and called for networking of academic institutions dealing with atmospheric sciences with meteorological agencies to enhance the capabilities of the present system. Prof. Ramamurthy favoured regional and global networks for the understanding of the monsoon as the phenomenon can not be studied in isolation.
Others spoke on the occasion included the Director of National Science Foundation of the United States, Dr. J.S. Fain; Prof. P.J Webster, Chairman, International Scientific Programme Committee of the United States; Prof. Jagdish Shukla, President of Institute of Global Environment Society of United States; Dr. S.K Srivastava, President, Indian Meteorological Society and Prof. S.K Dubey, Director, IIT, Kharagpur.
The five-day International Conference on Monsoon Experiment has been jointly organised by the Indian Meteorological Society and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, USA. The Conference is focussing on four major themes viz.,The knowledge of monsoon that existed prior to MONEX, the knowledge gained during MONEX, progress made during past 25 years after MONEX and the future challenges on monsoon research & understanding. Particular themes for the different sessions are – Retrospective of MONEX, Current understanding of the monsoon system, Predictability and prediction of the Monsoon system, Applications of monsoon forecasts and Future directions and opportunities. More than 250 scientists, including a large number of distinguished scientists from USA, UK, Japan, Australia, France and neighboring countries, are participating in the discussion. The Indian Summer Monsoon Experiment started in 1979. It is one of the most extensive programme in which a large number of scientists from a number of countries have been participating.
Meanwhile, the two-day International Brain storming Meeting on Modeling and Prediction over Indian Monsoon Region: Vision 2015 ended in NOIDA last night with the following recommendations:
* Need to adopt/develop appropriate forecast models and data assimilation systems with sufficient resolution(the models should have the capability to resolve the monsoon systems) to advance numerical weather capability over India.
* Need for continuous monitoring of Indian observations and development of optimum observing system which is based on current technology.
* Need to significantly upgrade the super computing power available at present at NCMRWF if appropriate models and analysis schemes are to be developed and operationalized.
* Need to develop competent scientific manpower through a dedicated search and selection process and rigorous training.
* Need for periodic review and evaluation of the scientific work.
* Need for continued interaction with the user community, especially the farming community in order to fine tune the model to yield a dependable location specific forecast tailor made to specific user requirements.
Based on the ideas gathered at the international brainstorming session, NCMRWF scientists will now prepare a roadmap for the consideration of the Government.
SK/SPS/SB
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