May 01, 2008  

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today (May 1, 2008) by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the installation of two Doppler Weather Radars in the Himalayan region for climate studies.

ISRO has indigenously developed the technology of Doppler Weather Radar and transferred it to Bharat Electronics Ltd for the production of these radars. Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) operates in S band and is capable of monitoring clouds, precipitation systems and winds over large areas of more than 400 km from the radar location. DWR has the unique capability to continuously track and predict fast evolving weather systems such as thunderstorms, cyclones and cloudbursts. The first such indigenous radar is operating at Sriharikota since April 2004. The Mark II version of DWR which is under production is a state of the art system with performance comparable with radars available elsewhere. DWR development called for high-end electronics, advanced data processing techniques and software for product generation.

As per the MOU signed today, two Doppler Weather Radars with advanced polarimetric capability will be established in the Himalayan region to monitor critical climate parameters including snowfall and help in improved weather forecasts for high altitude operations. The data from DWRs will be useful for the study of monsoon dynamics, avalanche prediction, detection of clear air turbulence and tracking of cloud burst, hailstorm and other severe weather events. In view of the global warming scenario, it is of paramount importance to monitor the highly sensitive and climatically unique Himalayan terrain.

ISRO is also installing two DWRs in the North East region of India to support Disaster Management by aiding the early warning of floods, landslides and other severe weather events. The Indian Meteorological Department is already procuring two such radars from BEL for installation at Kochi and Bhuj for cyclone monitoring.