Context: Mission Mausam, a recently approved weather preparedness initiative by the Indian government, aims to address the increasing unpredictability of weather events due to climate change. This initiative follows the National Monsoon Mission and seeks to improve weather forecasting and climate resilience through advanced technology and indigenous research.
Relevance: General Studies Paper III (Environment and Climate Change)
Mains Question: Discuss the significance of Mission Mausam in enhancing India’s climate resilience. How can AI and advanced technology aid in better weather forecasting and disaster preparedness?
- Need for Enhanced Weather Forecasting:
- Extreme weather events such as heavy downpours, droughts, and sea-level rise have become more frequent in recent years. The National Monsoon Mission (2012) laid the groundwork for weather forecasting, but climate change has made these events more erratic and difficult to predict.
- The Indian Government’s Mission Mausam, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores, aims to improve forecasting accuracy, especially regarding heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides, by deploying 70 doppler radars, 10 wind profilers, and other advanced tools.
- Climate Science and Emerging Technologies:
- While climate knowledge has advanced, it remains an emerging science with many local nuances. AI-aided research has shown promise in improving weather predictions, with reduced costs compared to traditional computing. AI can process vast amounts of data to identify patterns, improving the accuracy of forecasts.
- AI’s integration into weather prediction could help policy-makers and climate-smart strategies, enhancing early warning systems and disaster preparedness at a lower cost than traditional methods.
- The Importance of Controlling Rainfall:
- One potential strategy to address climate impacts is cloud seeding, which is already in use in countries like the US, China, UAE, and Russia. However, cloud seeding remains a contentious issue, with limited understanding of its environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness. Large-scale operations are still under scrutiny due to unknown outcomes.
- Urban Planning and Climate Resilience:
- A critical aspect of Mission Mausam is urban planning, focusing on making cities, towns, and rural areas more resilient. Landslides, floods, and slope-wise assessments in regions like Sikkim need to be integrated into broader planning. Building climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly around lakes and river bodies, is crucial to prevent catastrophic events like floods.
- Slope-wise assessments and warning systems for landslides in hilly terrains remain underdeveloped in India, and more investment is needed in this area.
- Role of AI in Weather Controlling Mechanisms:
- AI’s role extends beyond predictions; it can simulate weather-modifying mechanisms like cloud seeding and track the efficiency of rainfall control technologies. India can explore AI to strike a balance between technological application and ground realities.
Additional Data:
- Mission Budget: ₹2,000 crores for Mission Mausam.
- Doppler Radars: 70 doppler radars planned for deployment.
Conclusion:
Mission Mausam is a critical initiative for India to weather-proof its future in the face of climate change. However, for it to be truly effective, it must evolve with the complexities of climate science and integrate advanced technologies like AI. By balancing investment in technology and local knowledge, the initiative can improve weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure resilience, ultimately safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
