| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Pollution, Issue: Air Pollution and Control |
Context: The first phase of India’s Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI) was inaugurated at Silkheda, Madhya Pradesh.
Atmospheric Research Testbed:
- An open-field research program.
- Focuses on observational and analytical research of weather parameters and synoptic systems during the southwest monsoon season.
- Aims to generate high volumes of data for comparison with existing weather models to improve rainfall predictions.
- Developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, oversees the operations.
- Phase one involves remote sensing and in-situ measurements using 25 meteorological instruments.
- Phase two will include the deployment of additional instruments such as radar wind profiler and balloon-bound radiosonde.
Significance
- Central India, particularly the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ), is vital for rain-fed agriculture and Kharif cultivation.
- Understanding synoptic systems and their impact on monsoon rainfall is crucial for accurate forecasting.
- Climate change has led to erratic rainfall patterns, making accurate forecasting more critical.
- Silkheda’s pristine environment allows for the setup of sensitive meteorological instruments to record crucial data.
| Prelims Connect (Equipment of ART-C)● ART is equipped with over two dozen high-end instruments and radars for continuous observations.
➢ An aethalometer for aerosol studies, ➢ A cloud condensation nuclei counter and a laser ceilometer for cloud size measurement. ➢ A micro rain radar for raindrop size calculation and distribution analysis. ➢ A Ka-band cloud radar and a C-band Doppler weather radar for tracking rain-bearing systems’ movement. Terminology in News: ● The monsoon core zone (CMZ) is a region in India that stretches from Gujarat in the west to West Bengal in the east. |
