M. Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Science, on the inauguration of the Urban Test Bed facility, underneath Mission Mausam, at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tamil Nadu will get more weather radars to improve forecasting accuracy in the subsequent few years, and Chennai will get three more weather radars added to its remark community quickly, M. Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, stated in Chennai on Monday (October 13, 2025).
Mr. Ravichandran was talking after the inauguration of the Urban Test Bed facility, underneath Mission Mausam, at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology. Developed with the assist of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, the facility, is provided with atmospheric devices for real-time monitoring of varied weather parameters. The facility has remark programs, together with micro rain radar, that would offer steady information on wind circulation, clouds, and rainfall traits over Chennai.
Mr. Ravichandran stated websites are being recognized throughout Tamil Nadu to set up weather radars. Chennai, which already has an S band doppler weather radar and an X band radar, will get three more X band radars to enhance forecasts for the neighbouring districts as properly. This can be a part of the nationwide plan to add 100-120 weather radars throughout India.
Impact of local weather change
Highlighting the impression of local weather change and urbanisation on native weather in latest years, he stated that increasing the remark community would assist cut back forecast errors. Collaborations with tutorial establishments was crucial to deal with rising city weather complexities.
Mariazeena Johnson, chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, stated the new facility marks a big step in the direction of integrating scientific analysis with city local weather adaptation methods. It would create avenues for pupil coaching and interdisciplinary analysis.
A paleoclimatology laboratory and data galleries, which might function information and outreach hubs, had been additionally inaugurated. While Thara Prabhakaran, challenge director, Mission Mausam, emphasised the significance of institutional collaboration in strengthening city meteorology, A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM, Pune, spoke about financial losses due to pure disasters. Such expertise would assist perceive city warmth island and excessive weather occasions higher.
Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology and B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge), Regional Meteorological Centre, had been amongst those that participated in the occasion.
Published – October 14, 2025 11:50 am IST