Why in news?

Mission Mausam, launched by the Indian government, aims to enhance weather forecasting and actively manage weather events, including modifying rainfall, hail, fog, and potentially lightning strikes.

A key focus of the mission is cloud physics research, crucial for effective weather modification. To support this effort, India is setting up its first cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, to advance research in this field.

What’s in today’s article?

• Mission Mausam
• Cloud chamber under Mission Mausam
• India’s experience with cloud seeding

Mission Mausam

• About
  • In September 2023, India launched Mission Mausam to improve weather understanding and forecasting.
  • This will be done through expanded observation networks, better modeling and advanced tools like AI and machine learning.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
• Objective
  • Improving Weather Prediction Accuracy: By utilizing advanced technologies, Mission Mausam aims to provide highly accurate and timely weather and climate forecasts.
  • Strengthening Climate Resilience: The mission will equip various stakeholders, including citizens and last-mile users, to better tackle extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change.
  • Broadening Capacity in Weather Sciences: Through research and development, the mission will strengthen India's capability in atmospheric sciences, including weather modelling, forecasting, and surveillance.
• Focus area
  • Monsoon Forecasts: Enhanced predictions for the monsoon season, critical for agriculture and water management.
  • Air Quality Alerts: Providing accurate air quality forecasts to help manage pollution.
  • Extreme Weather Events: Timely alerts for cyclones, floods, and other extreme weather conditions.
  • Weather Interventions: Techniques for managing fog, hail, and rain to minimize disruptions in daily life and business activities.
• Implementing Institutions
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD): Responsible for daily weather forecasts and warnings.
  • Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM): Engaged in tropical weather and climate research.
  • National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF): Specializes in medium-range weather forecasting.
    • These institutions will be supported by other MoES bodies such as the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

Cloud chamber under Mission Mausam

• About
  • India's upcoming cloud chamber at IITM Pune will be a unique facility designed to study Indian monsoon clouds.
  • Resembling a closed cylindrical drum, it will simulate conditions for cloud formation by injecting water vapor, aerosols, and maintaining specific humidity and temperature.
  • Unlike basic cloud chambers in other countries, India's facility will include convection properties, crucial for monsoon research.
  • This advanced setup will allow scientists to study seed particles forming cloud droplets or ice particles. Globally, only a few such convective cloud chambers exist.
• Why is India building a convective cloud chamber?
  • Cloud physics involves studying cloud behavior, including interactions between particles, the formation of rain droplets and ice, and the impact of added atmospheric moisture from cyclones or low-pressure systems.
  • Establishing a convective cloud chamber aims to enhance understanding of these processes under conditions specific to Indian weather.
    • The controlled environment will enable them to manipulate parameters like temperature, humidity, and convection to better understand monsoon cloud behavior.
  • This knowledge will support strategic planning for weather modification

India’s experience with cloud seeding

• The Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) was a decade-long program conducted in four phases, focusing on cloud seeding to enhance rainfall.
• In the final phase (2016-2018), experiments were conducted in the rain-shadow regions of Solapur, Maharashtra.
• Results showed that, under suitable conditions, cloud seeding could increase rainfall by up to 46% in certain locations and by about 18% in a 100 sq. km area downwind of the seeding site.
• Despite these positive findings, it is acknowledged that cloud seeding is not a complete solution to rainfall issues.