Sunday, January 15 2006 16:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Indian Space Research Organization is aiming to achieve a real-time weather prediction in the subcontinent in the coming years by evolving models by coupling the space observation data with that of the ground data.

"As the atmospheric data is very important for ISRO, we are trying to make major thrust in this area," ISRO chairman, G Madhavan Nair told reporters here yesterday (Jan 14,2006).

For the data collection, ISRO will be using two spacecraft which have observation cameras that can monitor cloud pattern and movement and assess the cloud. This will be coupled with the ground data for which ISRO has designed, developed and an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) which is a low cost and compact one to record weather data and transmit the same through the data relay transponder on board INSATs in real time.

"ISRO has already initiated pilot projects with IIT Delhi and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and few more research laboratories. They along with ISRO are trying to evolve models and simulation techniques by which at least we can have near time forecast," Nair said.

ISRO is also working on the Doppler weather radars and has developed one of these radars and established at its launch site Sriharikota, he said adding that "to increase the number of such Dopplor radars, we have a contract with Bharat Electronics."

Soon they will be deployed in various parts of the country, he said, adding that if we had such a radar near Pune, we could have given the entire history for the July 26, 2005 Mumbai cloud burst, as the present satellite observation do not have facility to collect data of such very thick clouds.

He also added that ISRO will set up two Doppler radars in Northeast India and it will also be funding Indian Meterological Department for two radars.

"Some other agencies are also asking for such Doppler radars and so we hope that in the coming years we will have better prediction," he said.

Replying to a query on India's non-participation in the International Space Station (ISS), he said, "We did not take interest and also that in any international programme, the other side also should be willing to work with us. It is a two way process."

ISS was a grand programme and there are some positive results, but for the money spend on it, is it worth? he asked.