“Mission Mausam” is an ambitious initiative launched by the Indian Government to enhance weather forecasting and understanding through a combination of advanced technologies, expanded observational infrastructure, and innovative research. As climate change intensifies, making weather patterns more unpredictable, the mission aims to address these challenges by significantly improving weather prediction capabilities.

Why is it needed?

Weather forecasting in tropical regions like India remains difficult due to the complex interactions of atmospheric processes and limitations in current models and observation networks. The Ministry of Earth Sciences points out that current Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, which operate at a horizontal resolution of 12 kilometres, are insufficient for accurately predicting smaller, localised weather events. The existing observational data is sparse, and the chaotic effects of climate change are leading to more extreme events such as cloudbursts, thunderstorms, and localised droughts, which need better understanding and prediction.

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India faces simultaneous challenges of flooding and drought due to this unpredictability, which has made improving weather forecasts crucial. High-resolution data and enhanced forecasting models are needed to predict weather at a more localized level, such as panchayat-level forecasts, to mitigate these risks.

Key Elements of Mission Mausam:

  1. Expanded Observation Networks: The mission will significantly increase the number of Doppler radars, supercomputers, and other instruments to improve real-time data collection.
  2. Cloud Chamber for Weather Management: A laboratory for cloud simulation will be set up at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune to study cloud behaviour in the context of rising temperatures and explore cloud seeding as a potential tool for rain enhancement or suppression.
  3. Enhanced Weather Models: The mission aims to improve the resolution of NWP models from 12 kilometres to six kilometres, providing better predictions, especially for small-scale weather events.

Why Weather Management is Necessary:

Cloud seeding and weather modification technologies are being explored as potential solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather. For example, in cases of continuous rainfall that may cause flooding, artificially stopping rain could help reduce the risk. Conversely, in drought-prone areas, cloud seeding could help increase rainfall, offering a means to prevent droughts. Several countries, including the U.S., China, and the UAE, have experimented with cloud seeding, but its effectiveness and environmental impacts are still under study.

Mission’s Long-Term Goals:

  • Improve weather forecast accuracy by 5-10%.
  • Enhance air quality prediction in major cities by up to 10%.
  • Provide panchayat-level weather forecasts with a lead time of 10-15 days.
  • Increase the frequency of short-term weather predictions (nowcasts) from every three hours to every hour, which is critical for fast-changing weather events like thunderstorms or heavy rainfall.

By developing better observational capabilities and advancing technologies, Mission Mausam aims to provide more precise and actionable weather forecasts, ultimately helping India manage the growing threats posed by extreme weather events.