IMD launches a national framework for climate services to protect critical sectors

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched a National Framework of Climate Services (NFCS) to reduce losses from climate hazards and extreme weather events. The framework aims to strengthen the production and delivery of science-based climate monitoring and prediction services for sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, and disaster management. The IMD also launched a mobile app called 'Mausam' and unveiled new initiatives such as Panchayat Mausam Seva. The Earth sciences minister stated that IMD has improved its forecast accuracy of severe weather events by 40% in the last five years.

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday launched a National Framework of Climate Services (NFCS) that seeks to reduce losses from climate hazards and extreme weather events at a function to commemorate the 150th year of the weather office.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during the inaugural ceremony of celebrations marking 150 years of the India Meteorological Department in New Delhi, Monday (PTI)

The framework seeks to build a platform for users of climate information and services that will strengthen the production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate monitoring and prediction services for key sectors such as agriculture, health, energy and disaster management.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who formally kicked off the IMD’s yearlong celebrations at an event on Monday, also launched IMD’s mobile app, ‘Mausam’, that integrates all services offered by the weather office and unveiled new initiatives such as the Panchayat Mausam Seva and NFCS.

Dhankhar praised the weather office for a huge improvement in the quality of its predictions, saying IMD’s impact transcended mere weather forecasts and has emerged as a safety net, protecting national interests and helping to shield citizens from the wrath of nature.

Earth sciences minister Kiren Rijiju said IMD has been able to mould itself as a world-class national meteorological service that uses the latest technological tools for monitoring predictions and warning of extreme weather and climate events in the country and helping the country to build resilience against risk related to disaster and climate change,

Rijiju said IMD has been trying to improve its forecast of cloudbursts and glacial lake outburst floods by increasing the number of Doppler radars from 15 in 2014 to 39. The minister said 25 more Doppler radars will be set up for a better forecast of cloudbursts in the next 2-3 years.

Rijiju said there has been a 40% improvement in the accuracy of forecasting severe weather events over the last five years.