India is Building a Cloud Chamber as Part of Mission Mausam

Why in the News?
The Indian government has launched Mission Mausam, an ambitious initiative aimed at improving weather forecasting and actively managing weather-related events. This includes techniques to modify weather phenomena such as rainfall, hail, fog, and potentially even lightning strikes. One of the key components of the mission is cloud physics research, which is crucial for effective weather modification. To support this research, India is setting up its first-ever cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, marking a significant advancement in the study of clouds and weather patterns.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Mission Mausam
• Cloud Chamber under Mission Mausam
• India’s Experience with Cloud Seeding

Mission Mausam

• In September 2023, India initiated Mission Mausam with the goal of improving the country’s understanding of weather systems and enhancing forecasting accuracy.
• This will be achieved through the expansion of weather observation networks, improved weather modeling, and the integration of advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

Nodal Ministry:

The mission is led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Objectives:

1. Improving Weather Prediction Accuracy:
   Leveraging advanced technology, Mission Mausam aims to deliver highly accurate and timely forecasts for weather and climate events.
2. Strengthening Climate Resilience:
   The mission will provide citizens and other stakeholders, especially those at the grassroots level, with tools and resources to better handle extreme weather conditions and the challenges posed by climate change.
3. Expanding Capacity in Weather Sciences:
   By investing in research and development, Mission Mausam will enhance India’s capabilities in atmospheric sciences, including weather modeling, forecasting, and real-time weather monitoring.

Focus Areas:

1. Monsoon Forecasts:
   Enhanced predictions for the monsoon season are essential for agricultural planning and water resource management.
2. Air Quality Alerts:
   Timely and accurate air quality forecasts will help manage pollution levels and protect public health.
3. Extreme Weather Events:
   The , Mission Mausam will provide early warnings for natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and other severe weather conditions.
4. Weather Interventions:
   Techniques for managing weather events such as fog, hail, and rain will be explored to minimize their impact on daily life, business, and transport.

Key Implementing Institutions:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD):
  The IMD is responsible for issuing daily weather forecasts and warnings.
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM):
  IITM focuses on research in tropical weather and climate patterns.
• National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF):
  NCMRWF specializes in medium-term weather forecasting.

These institutions are supported by other organizations under the MoES umbrella, such as the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

Cloud Chamber Under Mission Mausam

Overview:

• India is constructing a cloud chamber at IITM Pune, which will be a specialized facility to study Indian monsoon clouds.
• This chamber, resembling a closed cylindrical drum, will recreate the conditions needed for cloud formation by introducing water vapor and aerosols and maintaining precise levels of humidity and temperature.
• Unlike simpler cloud chambers used in other countries, India’s facility will include convection properties, which are crucial for studying the behavior of monsoon clouds.
• The advanced setup will allow scientists to examine how particles (such as aerosols) form cloud droplets or ice particles, making it one of the few such convective cloud chambers worldwide.

Why Build a Convective Cloud Chamber?

• Cloud physics explores cloud behavior, including the interaction between particles, the formation of rain droplets, ice crystals, and how cyclones or low-pressure systems introduce moisture into the atmosphere.
• A convective cloud chamber will provide a controlled environment where scientists can manipulate variables like temperature, humidity, and convection to better understand the dynamics of Indian monsoon clouds.
• This deeper understanding will support strategic planning for weather modification, potentially enhancing efforts to manage rainfall and other weather phenomena.

India’s Experience with Cloud Seeding

Cloud Seeding Experiments:

• The Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) was a decade-long program focused on cloud seeding to increase rainfall.
• Conducted in four phases, the program’s final phase (2016-2018) focused on the rain-shadow regions of Solapur, Maharashtra.
• The experiments demonstrated that under suitable conditions, cloud seeding could increase rainfall by as much as 46% in specific locations. Over a 100 sq. km area downwind of the seeding site, rainfall increased by about 18%.

Limitations:

• While cloud seeding showed potential for enhancing rainfall in targeted areas, experts acknowledge that it is not a comprehensive solution to India’s broader rainfall and water scarcity challenges.

Conclusion:

The launch of Mission Mausam and the development of India’s first convective cloud chamber at IITM Pune are significant steps toward advancing weather prediction and modification techniques. Alongside India’s past experience with cloud seeding, these initiatives reflect the country’s growing commitment to improving weather forecasting, managing climate change impacts, and reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events. By investing in cutting-edge research and technology, India is positioning itself as a global leader in atmospheric and weather sciences.

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