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Indian Express
2 days 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
2 days 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
3 days 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.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Observatories to be deployed at sea to enhance forecasts
Chennai: Indian researchers will soon deploy observatories in the sea to collect continuous oceanographic and meteorological data to improve weather forecast accuracy and support climate studies. Work is already underway, with researchers from the city-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) conducting offshore geotechnical investigations for a coastal observatory. A 15-metre-tall platform was installed at a 10-metre water depth off their campus in Pamanji, Andhra Pradesh. The observatories will be installed under the Mission Mausam initiative to make India 'weather ready' and 'climate smart'. "Unlike buoys in the ocean, which provide only surface-level data, these observatories will have instruments to measure subsurface, surface, and atmospheric parameters and transmit data in real time. A lidar will be used as a probing device to penetrate a few kilometres into the atmosphere and provide a vertical profile, including cloud density and wind speed and direction," said M Ravichandran, secretary, ministry of earth sciences. He said the observatories will be deployed less than 60 km from the shoreline, starting along the east coast, with at least one observatory for every coastal state to complement land-based radars. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Experts said that while Doppler Weather Radars on land with a 100 km to 500 km radius capacity, detect and measure thunderstorm clouds, precipitation, winds, and cyclonic movement, no such observations exist over ocean. IMD also launches radiosondes or weather balloons daily to obtain vertical profiles over land, but not at sea. "We do not know how coastal currents are changing and what variabilities impact weather. Unlike on land, we don't have data on diurnal variation in the ocean. This is a challenge for forecasting in coastal regions," Ravichandran said. India currently relies on satellites, ship-based surveys, and argo floats for ocean observations. These provide mostly surface-level or snapshot data and lack the depth and continuity needed for detailed modelling. "Atmospheric data helps in nowcasting and short-term forecasts. But for 10–15-day, monthly, or seasonal forecasts, or long-term studies, the clue is ocean," Ravichandran added. The observatories will also help generate long-term time-series data critical for understanding ocean variability, monsoon behaviour, and climate change.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India to make statement at UN summit
India will be making a statement on ocean protection at the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in France's Nice between June 9 and 13, according to officials. India is presently reviewing the UNOC 3 final declaration that is expected to be adopted at Nice. The text of the declaration was already negotiated in New York in May. It is expected to emphasise the particular importance of implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement including the goal to limit the temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, and help ensure the health, productivity, sustainable use and resilience of the ocean and thus common future. It is likely to address sea level rise, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss among others. India will be participating in several panels but the most important ones for it are those on scientific cooperation and sharing of oceanographic data; marine pollution from land; and impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change on the ocean. The Indian delegation will be led by Jitendra Singh, minister of state for earth sciences. Scientists from Ministry of Earth Sciences will also attend. As part of the statement, India will also be calling attention to sea level rise. 'Sea level rise is a very critical issue for tropical countries including India. Apart from sea level rise contributed by melting of glaciers, melting of sea ice in the poles, here sea level rise is contributed by thermal expansion due to global warming. It's a grave threat to populous low lying coastal areas,' said M Ravichandran, secretary, ministry of earth sciences. India will also be participating in a side event with Norway on June 8 to demonstrate marine spatial planning. 'Though our partnership with Norway we have conducted marine spatial planning for Puducherry and Lakshadweep. It is a very important project because it tells us where new industry, township, aquaculture farm, ports or any infrastructure can come up in these coastal regions. This spatial planning can help other countries too because it is about judicious use of land and ocean,' added Ravichandran.
