Union Minister for Earth Sciences inaugurates first Doppler Weather Radar at Kufri

Shimla Jan 15

Accurate weather forecast was not only vital for the farmers to protect their crops from natural calamities but is helpful for tourism development as the visitors can decide about their travel plans according to the climate. This was stated by Union Minister for Earth Sciences, Health and Family Welfare and Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan after virtual inauguration of First Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) installed at Kufri, Shimla and at Mukteshwar, Nainital in Uttrakhand on the occasion of 146th India Meteorological Department Foundation Day.
Union Minister also virtually inaugurated Multi Mission Meteorological Data Receiving and Processing System and online version of Mausam journal.
While addressing the occasion virtually Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that two more Radars would be installed at Mandi and Dalhousie in Chamba district of the State. He said that site had already been finalized at Mandi and site for Radar at Dalhousie would be finalized soon. He said that range of this Radar was upto 100 kilometres in radial distance. He said that it would observe and provide the weather data of 100 kilometres in all directions, which would be used for forecasting purpose especially for short range forecast. He said that more précise and even area specific weather forecast and warning can be issued for a particular place after installation of the doppler. The new technology shall be very handy to predict weather phenomenon like thunderstorm, lighting, hailstorm, heavy rainfall/snowfall, gusty winds etc.
He said that this Centre would help the horticulturists and farmers of the State by providing them accurate information regarding weather.
Chief Minister of Uttrakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat also addressed the occasion virtually.

About the Radar

First Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) installed at Kufri Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Two more Radars will be installed in Himachal Pradesh i.e. one at Mandi and other at Dalhousie in District Chamba. Site of Mandi has already been finalized and its NOC from the Govt of HP is pending. Site at Dalhousie will be finalized at the earliest.

At present, radar installed at Kufri is on test mode for a period of two weeks and thereafter its data will be used for forecasting purposes.
Range of this radar is upto 100km (radial distance). It will observe and provide the weather data of 100km in all direction, which will be used for forecasting purpose, especially for short range forecast (nowcasting). More precised area specific weather forecast and warning will be issued for a particular place, for the weather phenomenon like thunderstorm, lighting, hailstorm, heavy rainfall/snowfall, gusty winds etc.

Following Basic informations from the DWR will be obtained
Reflectivity – A measure of Water Content in the cloud. It will give the base
and height of the cloud including area of the particular cloud cell. And
movement/direction of the clouds.
Radial Velocity – A measure of speed of movement of water droplets
towards or away from the antenna. In general the wind within the cloud
Spectral Width–A measure of turbulence in the cloud.

This Radar at Kufri will run round the clock. It is fully automatic and its functioning is computerized program based. It will transmit the data in various digital format and picture form.