IMD switching to Doppler radar for accurate weather forecasting
20 May 2010
India Meteorological Department (IMD) will replace its old and conventional radars by state of art S-band Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), at different locations of the country, in the first phase of its modernisation. IMD is modernising its observational network in a phased manner.
The first such radar was set up at Palam in Delhi. This radar will play a vital role in providing information of inclement weather events over Delhi and its adjoining areas.
Doppler weather radar (DWR) would provide short-range accurate weather prediction in a nearly 500 km radius. DWR has the unique capability to continuously track and predict fast- evolving weather systems such as thunderstorms, cyclones and cloudbursts.
It will also be much better and more advanced than the conventional radar, which is being presently used by the IMD, an official release said.
The radar will pick up more accurate information about the turbulence and wind speed of the atmosphere before a cyclone or heavy shower.
It will be able to predict the quantity of rainfall, and also the rainfall average, precipitation intensity, early detection of thunderstorms that may bring large hail, heavy rain, strong wind and tornados, it said.