Physical Geography
Block-Level Monsoon Forecasting in India
- Context : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has introduced a new weather forecasting system capable of providing block-level southwest monsoon forecasts across 15 states and one Union Territory.
About the New Forecasting System
- This system was developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It uses a combination of:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) based analysis
- Historical weather records
- Global weather forecast models
Coverage of the System
- It currently covers 3,196 blocks.
- These blocks are spread across 15 states and 1 Union Territory.
- Primary focus is given to monsoon core regions that rely heavily on rainfall for agriculture.
About Indian Meteorological Department
- The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) was established in 1875 as the National Meteorological Service and apex agency for meteorology in India.
- The IMD functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- Its headquartered in New Delhi.
- The IMD is headed by the Director General of Meteorology (DGM).
- The IMD operates hundreds of observatories across India and Antarctica.
