Government of India

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)

Key Initiatives and Achievements

2014-17

23 May 2017
 Missions
Weather and Climate Services
Weather forecasts, advisories, warnings, Monsoon and
Climate prediction, climate change research, data services
Ocean Services
Fishery advisories, Tsunami, Ocean state forecasts, warnings
Ocean Resources, Survey and Technology Development
Non-living resources- Water, Energy and Minerals
Living resources, mapping, ocean biodiversity
Survey and Exploration of EEZ, Continental Shelf
Seismological Services
Earthquake Detection and information, Geoscience research
Polar Science
Scientific exploration of the three poles (Arctic, Antarctic
and Himalayas ) and linkages to Climate.
 Weather Services
Substantial improvement in weather forecasts and
warnings, especially heavy rainfall and tropical
cyclone.
Warnings for Cyclones, Heavy Rainfall
Accurate forecasts for TCs Phailin, Hudhud,
Vardah
Minimal loss of human lives
Skillful forecasts for heavy rainfall up to 3-4 days in
advance, recent Chennai floods.
Skillful heat wave forecasts introduced in 2016
Nowcasting (up to 6h in advance) for severe weather
(covered 150 towns currently) using Doppler radar
data.
Investments in augmenting observational networks,
modelling research, high performance computers, and
training of scientific personnel.
 Tropical Cyclone
Vardah

The loss of lives during the

last 3 years due to tropical
cyclones has reduced to
less than hundred as
compared to the thousands
during the previous
decade.
 Forecasts for heat waves
To provide adequate warnings about heat
waves and associated health hazards,
MoES for the first time started issuing
forecasts for heat waves over the country.

The heat wave forecasts issued during the

2016 hot weather season (April to May)
were very successful.

A few state governments like Gujarat,

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha
have initiated state action plans based on
these forecasts during the hot weather
season, which could help them to warn
people in advance about the occurrence of
heat waves and thus saving their lives Maximum Temp Anomaly Forecast
issued for the hot weather season of
April- June 2016.
For the first time, the seasonal outlook for
the temperatures during the cold weather
season (December 2016-Febraury 2017)
also was issued.
 Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services

Agriculture advisories for all districts & twice weekly

Nowcasts, 5 day forecasts, extended range (15-20 day) forecasts.

District level, through 130 agro-met field units (AMFU)

Currently reaches 21 million farmers through SMS, 7 million in 2014

Economic Benefit more than Rs 50,000 Cr as per the NCAER report

Block level forecasts by 2019 through 660 district centres being

established through ICAR KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS.

A 12 km global weather prediction model is developed for block level

weather forecasts.

High performance computer of 10 petaflop capacity being commissioned

by November 2017- 10 times faster than the present computer.
 Climate Services
Monsoon Prediction Efforts
Prediction crucial to many sectors and GDP
National Monsoon Mission: Rs 400cr
project
Indigenous development of advanced
dynamical models for monsoon prediction.
Successful prediction of the deficient
monsoon of 2015- policy decisions
Temperature Projections
Science of Climate Change
Development of an Earth System Model
for climate change projections.
Participation of the IPCC sixth
assessment (AR6) by India.
Regional Climate Change Scenarios
Applications on Agriculture; Water;
Health; Extremes Aditya, Second Fastest
Computer in the Country
 Oceanic Services
Marine Fishery Advisory Services

Potential Fishery Zones (PFZ) based on Satellite data of SST

and Chlorophyll to find abundant fish

Currently Reaches to 2.5 Lakh Fishermen; 1.05 Lakh in 2014

Annual Savings of around Rs 3,000 Crore as per the NCAER
report

Regional Tsunami Warning System

Commissioned after the 2004 Tsunami
Successful warnings- No False Alarms
Forecast dissemination in regional languages.
Providing services to other countries in the region.
 Oceanic Services
Ocean State Forecasts(OSF) and warnings
(based on advanced Ocean models)
Wave forecasts: Global, Regional, Coastal, and location
specific
Storm Surge Warnings, surface currents, ocean temperatures
Forecast dissemination in local languages.
Currently about 16.5 Lakh users; 7.67 Lakh in 2014
The cumulative economic benefits exceeding Rs. 370000
crores have been accrued from these ocean state forecasts as
per the NCAER report.

Two New Initiatives under the Ocean Services

Prediction of Oil Spill Trajectories- Recent Chennai Oil Spill
Tools for search and rescue operations.
 Ocean Technology Development
In 2016, the Cabinet approval for signing of
15 years contract with the International Seabed
Authority (ISA) for undertaking exploration and
other developmental activities related to
Hydrothermal Sulphides in the allotted area of
10,000 sq km.

In connection with Polymetallic Nodules, made

an extensive survey, environmental
assessment and developed relevant
technology such as

Deep Ocean Mining System components

Remotely Operated Vehicles
Unmanned Submersibles,
Autonomous Coring System
In-situ Soil tester
Bottom pressure recorder

It will be done in parts of Central and South -

West Indian Ridges (SWIR), located in the
Indian Ocean.
 Seismological Services
Real time monitoring of Earthquakes
Within 5 minutes
National Seismological Network to be
upgraded to 116 observatories - by end of
this year.
Within 3 minutes
Microzonation of Cities
A few cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad,
Bangalore and Kolkata completed
30 more cities identified for Microzonation

Scientific Deep Drilling in Koyna, Maharashtra

was initiated in 2016, aimed at setting up of a
borehole observatory at depth of 3 km for direct
geophysical measurements.
Understanding of reservoir induced earthquakes
Drilling has now reached up to 2.9 km.
 Exploring Polar Regions
Antarctic Expeditions
Two operational stations at the Antarctic- Maitri and
Bharati, Observations since 1982
Member in the Antarctic Treaty
Study of ice dynamics, mass balance, and millennial-long
evolution First joint Indo-Norwegian field campaign was
undertaken during November 2016 January 2017
Replacement of Maitri station
Procurement of Polar Research Vessel
Arctic Expeditions
First Research Station- Himadri
First ocean mooring for time series measurements
since July 2014
Observer status in the Arctic Council
Himalayan Glaciers
Initiated monitoring 6 glaciers (306 km2) of the
Chandra Basin (Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal) in Western
Himalayas
First research station- Himansh
 Departmental Action Plans
Farmers Centric Initiatives
Strengthening of Agrometeorological Services-
Block level forecasts (around 6000) through 660 district centres
Development of high resolution (12 km) weather prediction models
High Performance Computing- 10 Peta flop
Employment Opportunities
Customized Forecasts for Tourism/Pilgrimage
300 destinations spread over the country
Accelerated Growth- Blue Economy
Energy from Oceans- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
Plant at Kavaratti
Swachh Bharat
Marine Observation System Along Indian Coast (MOSAIC)
Coastal Observatories- Prediction Systems
Development Ballast Water Treatment Facility
Deep Ocean Research: An Exciting Opportunity
A National Mission for Deep Ocean Research has been proposed
Proposed activities:
Extraction of resources (Minerals, Energy-Oil and Gas Hydrate)
Development of relevant Ocean technology
Understanding of Geo-hazards (Earthquakes and Volcanoes)
Exploring of Marine Genetic Resources- Drugs
Understanding Ecosystems and human habitats, Origin of monsoons and
past climate
Astrophysical Studies from Ocean floor
Deep Ocean as Tourism Destination for Recreation

Will generate interest and enthusiasm among students, employment

opportunities and economic benefits

Funds required: Rs 10,000 crores for next 5 years.

Joint Initiative: MoES (Lead),DBT, DST, CSIR, ISRO, DRDO and

DAE
New Initiatives: Weather, Climate, Hydromet services

Augmentation/Modernization of Atmospheric Observational

Systems
Radars, Radiometers, AWS, ARGs, LIDARs, Wind Profilers, supplemented
by Satellite Data, Procurement of Research Aircrafts

Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems / Decision Support Systems

DSS for Tropical Cyclones, heat waves, Lightning, urban and flash floods,
droughts, landslides
Integrated Hydrological Information System and Flood Warning System
Support

Atmospheric Chemistry Science of air pollution

Development of Research Test Beds

Process Studies- Modelling, Observational Campaigns, Cloud Seeding

Urban Meteorology Urban Issues, Urban Flooding

Thanks