Latest news with #IITM
India Today
8 hours ago
- Science
- India Today
IIT Bombay, Pune institute irrigation plan to cut 30% water use in drought-hit areas
Farmers in drought-prone regions face the daily dilemma of when and how much to irrigate. Unpredictable rainfall and dwindling groundwater make efficient water management address this, researchers at IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, have developed a smart irrigation plan that can cut water use in these areas and help farmers save 30% of the water without loss in crop irrigation plan integrates extended-range weather forecasts, satellite soil moisture data, and a computer simulation model to predict irrigation needs up to three weeks in advance. Earlier pilots in Nashik, Maharashtra, combined local soil moisture sensor readings with weather forecasts. "During our pilot study in Nashik, we included local weather forecasts in the soil moisture data and showed farmers that groundwater can be conserved by up to 30 percent. We initially predicted up to one week (short-range) ahead,' said Professor Subimal Ghosh of IIT system advises farmers whether to irrigate immediately or wait for predicted rainfall, preventing unnecessary STUDY IN NASHIKSoil moisture sensors alone can mislead when unexpected rain arrives soon after feeding 1-3-week forecasts and soil capacity data into their eco-hydrological model, the team calculated crop-specific water requirements and soil water model accurately predicted irrigation scheduling, enabling grape farms to reduce water use by 10-30percent without compromising TO BANKURABuilding on Nashik's success, the researchers applied their method to 12 sub-districts in Bankura, West Bengal, covering maize, wheat, sunflower, groundnut, and global soil maps, satellite and field data, and information from FAO, IMD, and IITM Pune, they incorporated root zone depth, soil texture, porosity, water-holding capacity, and stomatal response into the model.'Our computer model depicts the natural process by which plants draw water from the soil, their adaptation during water stress, and their response during a water balance after irrigation or rainfall,' Professor Ghosh simulations showed consistent 10-30percent water savings across all crops and DEPLOYMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURETo expand regionally, researchers plan village level discussions to install a few sensors and develop a real-time advisory have also proposed a bio-manufacturing hub to train students and industry researchers on smart protein production and API design, and aim to support TRLs3-7 for prototype by the West Bengal Environment Department, DSTSwarnajayanti Fellowship, SPLICE, Climate Change Programme, and Oracle CSR, this initiative demonstrates how weather forecasting, remote sensing, and simulation can revolutionise irrigation management and reduce groundwater dependency.- Ends
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
WiFEX: Ten winters and countless hours of fieldwork unravels India's winter fog
The Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX), launched in 2015 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi, has completed a milestone — ten years of dedicated research into North India's dense winter fog and its impact on daily life and aviation safety. 'The key aim as to generate high quality observational data and develop a reliable resolution fog prediction model. In the next phase, WiFEX-2 will be expanded to other major airports in North India,' Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI said on Tuesday. Dr Ravichandran along with other officials visited the WiFEX and System for Air Quality and Forecasting Research (SAFAR) control room at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) on Tuesday. On the occasion a state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry laboratory as inaugurated and the website of an Early Career Researchers' Hub for Earth Sciences as also launched. Dr Ravichandran later spoke to media persons about ho accurate forecasts under WiFEX have provided significant operational benefits to airlines including reductions in flight diversions and cancellations. 'Based on this success WiFEX is no progressing to its next phase WiFEX- II and these capabilities ill be expanded to major airports in North India so the advanced instruments can better predict localised fog events at airport runways,' he said. Led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), with support from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), WiFEX is one of the world's fe long-term open- field experiments focused solely on fog — an elusive winter hazard that regularly disrupts air, rail, and road transport across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. What began at IGIA — India's busiest and most fog-affected airport — has grown into a robust observational network now reaching Jewar Airport, Noida, and Hisar, Haryana, covering key aviation corridors across North India. Over the past decade, WiFEX scientists have deployed advanced instruments, micrometeorology towers, ceilometers, and high-frequency sensors to collect detailed data on temperature layers, humidity, wind, turbulence, soil heat, and aerosols — building an unmatched dataset that reveals ho dense fog forms and disperses. 'These insights have powered the development of a high-resolution (3 km) probabilistic fog prediction model, which no stands among the region's most advanced tools for operational forecasting. This model can reliably predict hen fog will begin, ho dense it will be, how long it will last, and when it will clear — achieving more than 85% accuracy for very dense fog (visibility below 200 metres),' Dr. Sachin Ghude, Project Director, WiFEX and SAFAR explained. WiFEX is stepping into its next phase — WiFEX-II — which will extend localised, runway-specific fog predictions to more airports in North India. By in stalling dedicated sensors at additional sites, airport operators will gain real-time data to help them activate response plans and ensure operations remain safe and efficient — even in the thickest fog. 'After ten winters and countless hours of fieldwork, WiFEX is shining example of hat sustained, focused re- search and collaboration can achieve. By connecting observations to models and models to real-world decisions, WiFEX proves that science can clear the path forward,'Dr Suryachandra Rao, Director , IITM added. 'By this November Wi-FEX-2 will be launched at Noida, Jaipur, Varanasi and plans are underway for introducing the systems at Guwahati,' Dr Ghude said. IITM scientists explained that for airlines, pilots, air traffic controllers, and passengers, this means fewer costly diversions, fewer delays, safer runways, and more informed travel during the challenging winter fog season. 'We also need to reduce false alarms and the WiFEX -2 will help us address this pertinent issue,' Dr Ghude added. Meanwhile, at forward locations, the Indian Armed Forces have expressed a need for similar fog prediction solutions, IITMexperts said. They pointed out that while sophisticated instruments are available at IGI Airport in New Delhi, the accuracy of predictions at the requested locations depends on the availability of local weather and cloud data. On the NISAR satellite Dr M Ravichandran, responding to queries on the NISAR satellite – jointly developed by NASA and ISRO and scheduled for launch soon said that they would wait for data. The NISAR satellite will examine water bodies, forest loss and so on. He also said that they were collaborating with ISRO to request the launch of a new satellite. —INSAT-3DS is a dedicated meteorological satellite launched by ISRO to enhance weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities. According to the expert as part of their transition to the fourth-generation series, preparatory work is underway. 'On August 23, we will outline and prioritise our satellite data requirements for weather monitoring. Each sector will be formally informed about these priorities and their relevance,' he said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
IITM's WiFEX-II to expand fog prediction to North and Northeast India
PUNE: After a decade of successful operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) on Tuesday launched the second phase of the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX-II). The expanded project will offer localized, runway-specific fog forecasts to several more airports in North and Northeast India, including the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar, Hisar Airport in Haryana, and Guwahati Airport in Assam. IITM's WiFEX-II to expand fog prediction to North and Northeast India The WiFEX initiative was launched in the winter of 2015 by IITM under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). It is among the world's few long-term field experiments focused exclusively on fog—an often unpredictable hazard that frequently disrupts air, rail, and road traffic across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Over the past ten years, WiFEX scientists have used advanced instruments such as micrometeorology towers, ceilometers, and high-frequency sensors to gather granular data on temperature gradients, humidity, wind speed, turbulence, soil heat, and aerosols. This extensive dataset has enabled the development of a high-resolution (3 km) probabilistic fog forecast model, capable of predicting fog onset, intensity, duration, and dissipation with over 85% accuracy for very dense fog (visibility below 200 meters). 'This has not only improved flight safety but also significantly reduced diversions and delays, saving time and money while minimizing inconvenience to passengers,' said M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, who launched WiFEX-II in Pune on Tuesday. Beyond forecasting, WiFEX has also deepened scientific understanding of fog formation, revealing the influence of urban heat islands, land-use changes, pollution levels, and airborne particles on fog density and persistence. 'The findings are already informing air quality policies and improving early warning systems,' said Dr. Sachin Ghude, senior scientist at IITM and project lead for WiFEX. Under WiFEX-II, dedicated sensors will be installed at additional airport sites. These sensors will feed real-time data into forecasting systems, enabling airport authorities to make timely operational decisions during fog episodes. The WiFEX-II launch event was attended by IITM Director Dr. Suryachandra Rao, Dr. Ghude, and other senior scientists. On the same occasion, a new State-of-the-Art Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory was also inaugurated at IITM by Dr. Ravichandran. BOX: Coming Soon: Pune and Mumbai to Get Decision Support System for air quality The Decision Support System (DSS), developed by IITM as an advanced layer of its Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), is soon set to be launched in Mumbai and Pune. Currently operational only in Delhi, DSS provides 120-hour air quality forecasts at a 10 km resolution and helps policymakers identify the precise sources of pollution during critical air-quality episodes. 'We are in discussions with the Pune Municipal Corporation and are in the final stage of approvals. We expect Pune to get the system within a year,' said Dr. Sachin Ghude. The system will empower civic authorities with actionable insights, enabling more effective and targeted air pollution control measures.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
IITM set to launch WiFEX-II to improve winter fog forecasts for airports in north India
Pune: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is set to launch WiFEX-II, building on its decade-long Winter Fog Experiment to deliver precise, runway-specific fog forecasts to more airports in north India. This will enable airport operators to activate response protocols, ensuring safe operations during low-visibility conditions along major aviation corridors. Under the expanded programme, dedicated sensors would be installed at new airport locations, providing real-time data to support operational decision-making during the winter fog season, which often disrupts aviation in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Building on the success of WiFEX, launched in 2015 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the programme has developed a high-resolution fog prediction model with over 85% accuracy for dense fog conditions (visibility under 200 metres). IITM scientists said the system could forecast fog onset, density, duration and clearance patterns. The original experiment has expanded from the Delhi airport to include airports in Jewar (Noida) and Hisar (Haryana), creating an observational network that monitored temperature, humidity, wind patterns, turbulence and aerosol data through advanced meteorological equipment, including ceilometers and micrometeorology towers, they said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 30 Beautiful women who lived 80-100 years ago Undo You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Ceilometers are instruments used to measure cloud base height or vertical visibility in weather and aviation applications, while micrometeorology towers are structures equipped with instruments to measure and monitor various atmospheric conditions near the surface. The IITM scientists said research, conducted in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), generated insights into how air pollution, urban heat effects and land-use changes influenced fog formation and persistence. "WiFEX data has enabled more accurate forecasting that helps reduce flight diversions, delays and operational disruptions during north India's winter months when dense fog severely impacts aviation, rail and road transport," an IITM scientist said. The ministry of earth sciences announced the WiFEX milestone during an event at IITM's Aryabhatta Hall, which included the launch of a website, screening of a documentary marking 10 years of WiFEX and a press briefing by Dr M Ravichandran, secretary MoES, and IITM director Dr A Suryachandra Rao. The programme also featured visits to the state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry laboratory and Safar WiFEX control room for briefings on air quality monitoring activities.
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Explained: What Is Cloud Seeding And Why Delhi Plans To Do It In September
New Delhi: Delhi, infamous for its air pollution, will witness the first-ever cloud seeding flights between August 30 and September 10, a delay from its initial plan of conducting artificial rain between July 4 and 11. The dates have been revised following expert recommendations from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. Announced by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Rs 3.21 crore project titled 'Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation,' will deploy five modified Cessna aircraft for cloud seeding, triggering rainfall and reducing air pollutants. To begin with, the project will cover low-security air zones in northwest and outer Delhi. Each sortie, lasting around 90 minutes, will cover around 100 square kilometres. What Is Cloud Seeding Cloud seeding is the process of adding special substances like silver iodide and dry ice to clouds to make it rain or snow in areas experiencing water scarcity, less snowfall, or to reduce hail and clear fog. It can be done using airplanes, rockets, or machines on the ground. The formulation, developed by IIT Kanpur, includes silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt. Why Delhi Is Pushing For Artificial Rain The national capital, Delhi, is infamous for its air pollution problem. Barring a few months, the city experiences high levels of pollution throughout the year. In a bid to provide 'clean air' to its citizens, the Delhi government has been considering cloud seeding or artificial rain for months. Delhi remained India's most polluted megacity by a wide margin during the 2024-25 winter, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 175 micrograms per cubic metre, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment. The air pollution in the city is reducing citizens' life expectancy by an average of 11.9 years compared to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) guidelines, according to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). Why Delhi Changed Dates Delhi government's initial plan to conduct artificial rain between July 4 and 11 drew criticism for inducing rain during monsoon, when pollution levels are relatively low and wasting crores of money. The concern is genuine, but not right. According to the experts, monsoon clouds are required for the seeding. Cloud seeding is said to work only when there are already clouds in the sky and can increase rainfall by about 5-15 per cent. IMD and IITM, Pune, suggested that monsoon cloud patterns during this window may not support optimal cloud seeding, hence, it has been pushed to August end and early September. Is Cloud Seeding Effective To Reduce Air Pollution Cloud seeding is more like a stopgap arrangement than a solution to the problem of Delhi's air pollution, said Sunil Dahiya, Founder and Lead Analyst at Envirocatalysts. "We aren't tackling pollution at source so cloud seeding will not help reduce pollution levels in the long run. We can deploy it on days when pollution levels skyrocket, for example, a day after Diwali, but it isn't a solution," said Mr Dahiya in an interview with NDTV. Mr Dahiya also believes that conducting a pilot in September won't give the correct picture, as during monsoon, clouds have higher moisture. "Pilots which depend on meteorological conditions should be carried out in the same conditions as they are to be deployed. In the case of Delhi, the plan is to use cloud seeding in winters," he added.
