[1]The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) would soon equip itself with new facilities for effective studies on monsoon and weather patterns. The federal science and technology ministry is funding the project.
It has entrusted the Chennai-based Data Patterns India with the task of designing and developing the Rs12 crore ultra modern Doppler radar on the Cusat campus.
“The radar will be useful to study monsoon and the reasons for its variations and also for understanding its low-level jet,” Cusat sources said.
The company will develop Stratosphere-Troposphere radar as per the direction and requirement of the scientists in the atmospheric department of the varsity. Two-thirds of the equipment for the radar would be procured from abroad.
The three-storey building for the radar would be constructed by the public sector BSNL. The work would start in October. The total cost of the facility, including the cost of radar, would come to Rs20 crore.
The university is now awaiting the sanction for a 200 MHz frequency radar from the Wireless Promotion Council.
The radar would also help study the characteristics of tropical easterly jet-stream in the upper troposphere and its linkage with monsoon activity.
“Kochi’s location is geographically unique and there is no such radar in the tropical belt, which could give useful data for the entire Asian monsoon region. As far as the monsoons are concerned, we can study the intensity, velocity and orientation of the jet stream and also about cloud formations
and vertical wind activity up to 25-30 kilometres,” said project co-ordinator Dr K. Mohan Kumar of the atmospheric sciences department at Cusat. The radar will be useful for the Navy and CIAL
as well.
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