With official monsoon predictions going haywire year after year, the Union ministry of earth sciences has turned to the scientific community for help to design an effective monsoon prediction model with zero error.
The design, an improved version of the UK and the US monsoon prediction models, will help meteorologists at the IMD to hone up their prediction skills.
The Earth Systems Science Organisation and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology are looking for a state-of-the-art dynamic prediction system for monsoon rainfall on all timescales. The proposals sent by researchers from across the country will be evaluated and the best among them will be selected for research under the “monsoon mission”.
A monsoon erratum has been increasing every year and meteorologists often blame climate change for the error in their calculations. The proposed study will help in designing a scientific model that will accurately predict the arrival and progression of the monsoon.
Monsoon plays a crucial role in the economy of the country and meteorological predictions help in chalking out contingency plans for farm operations.
The new design will look at and predict monsoon from two perspectives — short-term (up to two weeks) and long-term (two weeks to the full season). The Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services will provide the ocean observations, and India Meteorological Department will implement the research results in operational mode.
According to IMD sources, researchers will get additional funds for collaboration with international agencies like the Met Office in the United Kingdom and the National Centres for Environmental Predi-ctions, US, for improving prediction skill of monsoon rainfall in short, medium, extended and seasonal time scales.