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India Today
7 days 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
23-07-2025
- 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
Time of India
22-07-2025
- 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.
Nahar Net
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Nahar Net
Climate change makes South Asia's monsoon more prone to floods and landslides
Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country's farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Climate experts say the high temperatures and heavy rain are also contributing to the melting of glaciers in the mountainous Himalayan region, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. Monsoon season becomes more dangerous The South Asian region has traditionally had two monsoon seasons. One typically lasts from June to September, with rains moving southwest to northeast. The other, from roughly October to December, moves in the opposite direction. But with more planet-warming gases in the air, the rain now only loosely follows this pattern. This is because the warmer air can hold more moisture from the Indian Ocean, and that rain then tends to get dumped all at once. It means the monsoon is punctuated with intense flooding and dry spells, rather than sustained rain throughout. "We are witnessing a clear climatic shift in monsoon patterns across South Asia," said Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune and author of several United Nations climate reports. Traditionally, people in India and neighboring countries excitedly awaited the monsoon rains, which would finally mean the end of summer heat. But attitudes are changing as disasters increase during the rainy seasons. "The frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are increasing, often overwhelming drainage infrastructure in urban areas and triggering flash floods," Koll said. Higher temperatures and longer periods of drought are also making farming harder in South Asia, climate experts said. "More than 60% of the people in South Asia are dependent on agriculture, and almost all of them are dependent on monsoon rainfall," said Finu Shreshta, a climate scientist at Kathmandu, Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Mountain regions are seeing more glacial lakes overflowing A 2023 report by Shreshta's organization found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges. The study found that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream. Heavy monsoon rains can exacerbate the problem. "A lot of the mountain areas tend to have more warming than the global average, resulting in more glaciers melting," said Miriam Jackson, glaciologist at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. An October 2023 glacial lake overflow in the Indian state of Sikkim triggered flooding that killed 55 people and damaged bridges, buildings and a hydropower dam that was under construction. Heavy rainfall and increasing heat are leading to snow and ice avalanches, rockfalls and other events that can trigger the lakes to breach or overflow, Shreshta said. "Even small glacial lakes are now breaching and causing damage," she said. Early warning systems and long-term planning can help Installing early warning systems and building in less risky areas can help reduce damage from heavy rains, climate experts say. "If you know a flood is coming, then people can get to higher ground and there could be a sort of standard early warning system along a river that sends out a siren," Jackson said, adding that social media and messaging applications can help people spread warnings to those downstream. Koll, the Pune-based scientist, said that rapid urbanization, shrinking floodplains and loss of natural drainage also exacerbate damage from heavy rains. Koll said that most government response currently comes after disasters, and there is a lack of long-term planning. "In the future monsoon, extreme rains are projected to intensify further, in addition to sporadic water shortages. Hence, we need proactive, long-term strategies that combine science, policy, and community engagement," he said. Jackson said the biggest issue, however, is to try to reduce emissions of planet-heating gases because there are limits to adapting to extreme weather. "If we continue with, you know, business as usual, and we have the same kind of emissions, then the world is going to keep on getting warmer and there will be more intense rain and floods. At some point, we could go beyond the limits of adaptation," she said.
10-07-2025
- Climate
Climate change makes South Asia's monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains
BENGALURU, India -- Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country's farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Climate experts say the high temperatures and heavy rain are also contributing to the melting of glaciers in the mountainous Himalayan region, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. The South Asian region has traditionally had two monsoon seasons. One typically lasts from June to September, with rains moving southwest to northeast. The other, from roughly October to December, moves in the opposite direction. But with more planet-warming gases in the air, the rain now only loosely follows this pattern. This is because the warmer air can hold more moisture from the Indian Ocean, and that rain then tends to get dumped all at once. It means the monsoon is punctuated with intense flooding and dry spells, rather than sustained rain throughout. 'We are witnessing a clear climatic shift in monsoon patterns across South Asia,' said Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune and author of several United Nations climate reports. Traditionally, people in India and neighboring countries excitedly awaited the monsoon rains, which would finally mean the end of summer heat. But attitudes are changing as disasters increase during the rainy seasons. 'The frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are increasing, often overwhelming drainage infrastructure in urban areas and triggering flash floods,' Koll said. Higher temperatures and longer periods of drought are also making farming harder in South Asia, climate experts said. 'More than 60% of the people in South Asia are dependent on agriculture, and almost all of them are dependent on monsoon rainfall,' said Finu Shreshta, a climate scientist at Kathmandu, Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. A 2023 report by Shreshta's organization found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges. The study found that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream. Heavy monsoon rains can exacerbate the problem. 'A lot of the mountain areas tend to have more warming than the global average, resulting in more glaciers melting,' said Miriam Jackson, glaciologist at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. An October 2023 glacial lake overflow in the Indian state of Sikkim triggered flooding that killed 55 people and damaged bridges, buildings and a hydropower dam that was under construction. Heavy rainfall and increasing heat are leading to snow and ice avalanches, rockfalls and other events that can trigger the lakes to breach or overflow, Shreshta said. 'Even small glacial lakes are now breaching and causing damage,' she said. Installing early warning systems and building in less risky areas can help reduce damage from heavy rains, climate experts say. 'If you know a flood is coming, then people can get to higher ground and there could be a sort of standard early warning system along a river that sends out a siren,' Jackson said, adding that social media and messaging applications can help people spread warnings to those downstream. Koll, the Pune-based scientist, said that rapid urbanization, shrinking floodplains and loss of natural drainage also exacerbate damage from heavy rains. Koll said that most government response currently comes after disasters, and there is a lack of long-term planning. 'In the future monsoon, extreme rains are projected to intensify further, in addition to sporadic water shortages. Hence, we need proactive, long-term strategies that combine science, policy, and community engagement,' he said. Jackson said the biggest issue, however, is to try to reduce emissions of planet-heating gases because there are limits to adapting to extreme weather. 'If we continue with, you know, business as usual, and we have the same kind of emissions, then the world is going to keep on getting warmer and there will be more intense rain and floods. At some point, we could go beyond the limits of adaptation,' she said.
