India Establishes Cloud Chamber Under Mission Mausam Initiative
Why in the news?
Mission Mausam aims to improve weather forecasting and management in India by establishing a cloud chamber to enhance research in cloud physics and potential weather modification techniques.
Objective of Mission Mausam:
- Launched last month, Mission Mausam aims to enhance weather forecasting and manage weather events, including rainfall, hail, and fog.
- To support these goals, India plans to establish a first-of-its-kind cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune.
- The cloud chamber will enable advanced research in cloud physics, critical for improving weather management strategies.
Understanding the Cloud Chamber:
- A cloud chamber is a closed cylindrical or tubular device where water vapour and aerosols are injected to create clouds under controlled humidity and temperature conditions.
- This facility will allow scientists to study cloud formation, including the behaviour of cloud droplets and ice particles, particularly during monsoon conditions.
- Unlike basic cloud chambers in other countries, India’s facility will have convective properties, focusing on the unique aspects of Indian monsoon clouds.
Research and Weather Modification Potential:
- Scientists will manipulate atmospheric parameters to investigate how different conditions influence Indian weather and climate.
- Over the next 18-24 months, a team will develop advanced instrumentation for use in the chamber, allowing detailed monitoring of environmental conditions.
- Past experiments in cloud seeding under the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAPEEX) demonstrated the potential to enhance rainfall by up to 46%, though it is not a comprehensive solution for rainfall challenges.
Sources Referred:
PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times