2. Atmosphere and Climate Research
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Contents 1 Overview 1 2 Atmospheric and Climate Research, Observations Science Services (ACROSS) 2 3 Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources, Modeling and Science (O-STORMS) 23 4 Polar and Cryosphere Research (PACER) 45 5 Seismology and Geoscience Research (SAGE) 55 6 Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT) 64 7 International Cooperation 72 8 Publications 78 9 Administrative Support 114 10 Acknowledgements 119 1. OVERVIEW Earth System Science deals with all the attained the same capability as USA in using five components of the Earth System, viz., high resolution weather prediction models. Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Many major improvements have been made in Lithosphere and Biosphere and their data assimilation for the ingestion of data from complex interactions. The Ministry of Earth Indian and International satellites in numerical Sciences (MoES) holistically addresses all models. Under the Monsoon Mission, the aspects relating to Earth System Science operational dynamical model systems have for providing weather, climate, ocean, been implemented for extended range and coastal state, hydrological and seismological seasonal forecasts. For the first time, forecasts services. These services include forecasts on different time scales during the hot and warnings for various natural disasters. weather season (April to May) including heat In addition, the ministry has the mandate waves were issued by the India Meteorological of conducting ocean surveys for living and Department. non-living resources and exploration of all the three poles (Arctic, Antarctic and Himalayas). The quality of weather services saw noticeable The services provided by the Ministy are being improvements achieved in skills of Heavy effectively used by different agencies and Rainfall Forecasts and tropical cyclone state governments for saving human lives and forecasts. Presently around 19.5 million minimizing damages due to natural disasters. farmers are directly benefitting from the Several major milestones which have been agro-meteorological services of IMD. For the accomplished under the five major programs recent cyclone Vardah, accurate predictions of the MoES during the last year are illustrated were provided almost 3 days in advance, below: helping the state government authorities to save thousands of lives. 1.1 Atmospheric and Climate Research, Observations Science Services (ACROSS) To address the issue of better measurement During this year 2016, many significant and understanding of small-scale processes achievements have been made in providing that drive the variability, seasonality and weather and climate services. Many predictability in the South Asian Monsoon, observational campaigns have been taken a large-scale joint India-UK observational up such as special atmospheric observations campaign was carried out during the period to help us to understand model deficiencies June-July 2016. The campaign involved the and to improve the models. A high resolution deployment of UK’s BAe-146-301 atmospheric global deterministic weather prediction research aircraft with sophisticated scientific model has been commissioned for generating instruments and India’s Sagar Nidhi and Sindhu OVERVIEW operational weather forecasts at a horizontal Sadhna research vessels. An observational resolution of 12 km. With this, MoES has campaign to understand different physical 1 features of Fog and factors responsible for On 27th July 2016, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble its genesis, intensity and duration was also Minister of Science & Technology and Earth initiated during December 2016 at the Indira Sciences dedicated the Search and Rescue Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and at Aid Tool (SARAT) to the Nation during the XV ICAR-IARI in New Delhi. These observations will National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) be useful for improving model forecasts of Fog. Board Meeting. In addition, an experimental version of SARAT was used to provide Search The Climate Centre at IMD Pune has been now And Rescue support to all the concerned in recognized as the Regional Climate Centre connection with the missing AN 32 aircraft, by the World Meteorological Organisation which was reported missing off Chennai on 22 (WMO) for providing regional climate services. July 2016. To facilitate the indication of eco- A first version of the Earth System Model (ESM) sensitive zones, potential fishing zones, fishing has been implemented to study the climate avoidance zones during the event of oil spills, change aspects and develop future regional the third version of the online oil spill advisory climate change scenarios and to conduct was recently inaugurated. climate impact assessment studies. The ESM In 2016, INCOIS deployed 23 ARGO floats in the will be the first climate model from India to Indian Ocean with sensors to collect physical contribute to the forthcoming sixth IPCC parameters, of which 11 were equipped with climate change assessment process. additional biogeochemical sensors. Currently, over 732 active floats are actively working in 1.2 Ocean Services, Technology, the Indian Ocean of which 136 were deployed Observations, Resources, Modeling and Science (O-STORMS) by India. So far, more than 340856 temperature INCOIS continued to provide forecasts on and salinity profiles, 18993 dissolved oxygen ocean state, PFZ advisories and species specific and 7614 Chlorophyll profiles were collected by Argo floats in the Indian regions.Ocean advisories for a wide spectrum of users. The Moored buoy Network in the Indian Ocean ocean state forecasts were also provided before (OMNI) has been systematically maintaining and during the launch day of the Re-usable the twelve deep sea buoy systems with surface Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstration & subsurface sensors, four coastal buoys and (RLV-TD) of the Indian Space Research two tsunami buoys. During the reporting Organisation (ISRO). The Indian Tsunami period 14 cruises were conducted to carry Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) monitored 29 out 41 deployments/retrievals. Indigenously earthquakes of magnitude ≥ 6.5 MW during developed 500 m depth rated shallow water/ the period 1 January - 31 October 2016. polar remotely operated vehicle (PROVe) Out of these 29 earthquakes, 2 significant was successfully deployed, in the Andaman earthquakes have occurred in the Indian Ocean coral Islands and the vehicle was successfully region. These earthquakes did not generate maneuvered in the undulating reef terrain to ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17 ANNUAL any Tsunami and hence 'no threat' bulletins record high quality underwater visuals of coral 2 were issued for India. reef biodiversity with spectral irradiance. 1.3 Polar and Cryosphere Research (PACER) of 130 km of the Chandra river in Western The 35th Indian Scientific expedition to Himalaya for hydrological balance/modeling. Antarctica was executed with a total of 124 Glaciers were monitored for mass balance, expedition members representing 29 different dynamics, energy balance and hydrology. organizations with 34 projects covering Under the Arctic observations program, upper atmosphere, astrophysics, geophysics, the Indian Arctic mooring (IndARC-II) was meteorology, glaciology, geology, biology, retrieved on 26th July 2016, following which environmental sciences, human physiology th and medicine. Yoga was introduced as part of IndARC III was re-deployed successfully on 27 a scientific programme. The 36th expedition July 2016. The Ambient Noise Measurement members were sent in different batches, System with a single hydrophone and a data commencing November 2016. Total of 31 acquisition system was deployed on IndARC-II. sub-projects/studies covered (i) Atmospheric IndARC-II collected more than 116 parameters Science & Meteorology, (ii) Biology & and worked continuously for 373 days in the Environmental Sciences (iii) Earth Science Arctic waters. During the year, 17 projects & Glaciology with the overall theme being covering different aspects oceanography, “Climate Change”. atmospheric sciences, geology and glaciology were implemented at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, The IXth Southern Ocean Expedition was Norway. launched on board Oceanographic Research Vessel MV Agulhas [South African vessel] from 1.4 Seismology and Geoscience Research (SAGE) Port Louis, Mauritius during December, 2016. The national seismological network consisting The observations will be made up to Prydz Bay, of 82 observatories has been functioning the coastal waters of India’s third station in smoothly and a total of 245 earthquake Antarctica “Bharati’. events occurred in and around India (Latitude National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean 0-40° N, Longitude 60-100° E) were detected Research (NCAOR), Goa, under the Ministry and auto-located during the period November of Earth Sciences established a high altitude 2015 October, 2016. These include 40 events research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH of magnitude 5 and above. Information (literally meaning, a slice of ice), situated pertaining to significant events was above 13,500 ft (> 4000 m) at a remote region transmitted to all concerned state and central in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. This station is government agencies, dealing with relief equipped with instruments such as Automatic and rescue operations in the region and also Weather Station, Water Level Recorder, Steam posted on the associated website. Currently Drill, Snow/Ice Corer, Ground Penetrating the second phase of upgradation is on which Radar, Differential Global positioning System, envisages installation