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Monsoon Updates

Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI)

15 March 2024 | Prelims Only | Environment
Mains GS1: GS1-15.Geographical features and their location- Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Why in the news-

  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences has commissioned Atmospheric Research Testbed-Central India (ART-CI) near Bhopal.

About Atmospheric Research Testbed

  • ART-CI stands as an innovative testbed facility, pioneering the exploration of monsoon convection and land-atmosphere interactions, marking a significant advancement in climate research.
  • The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune leads ART-CI, operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Mission Objectives

  • ART-CI primarily targets the monsoon trough area, encompassing the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ), a critical component of the regional climate system.
  • Understanding this zone is paramount for precise weather forecasts and accurate climate modelling within India.

Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ)

 

  • MCZ is a region in India stretching from Gujarat to West Bengal in the east.
  • India Meteorological Department demarcates it as an agricultural region where cropping is mostly rainfed.
  • It is the region within the monsoon trough area that plays a central role in the dynamics of the Indian monsoon system.
  • It is characterized by intense convective activity, significant rainfall, and crucial atmospheric interactions that influence the overall behavior of the monsoon.
  • The MCZ typically experiences a concentration of atmospheric processes that drive the onset, progression, and withdrawal of the monsoon rains across the Indian subcontinent.

Features and Capabilities

  • ART-CI’s development unfolds incrementally as part of the Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS) umbrella scheme.
  • The facility will feature an extensive array of remote-sensing and in-situ instruments.
  • These tools would help monitoring of various atmospheric parameters like convection, cloud cover, precipitation, soil moisture, radiation levels, and microphysics.

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