Vision 2030 chalked out for weather forecasting.

​Visakhapatnam: Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr Madhavan Nair Rajeevan said his ministry prepared a vision document, VISION 2030, with a focus on applications for weather forecasting system in the country.

Delivering convocation address of GITAM University here on Saturday, Nair said the applications include generating block level (about 6000 blocks) weather forecasts for farmers and district-level climate services for various applications.

For this, an advanced high resolution numerical models with data from denser observational network have been prepared. It is proposed to disseminate these services through 660 district centres which will be set up in collaboration with the ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

Developing multi-hazard early warning systems would be prepared for disaster risk management for tropical cyclones and storm surges, earthquakes, urban and flash floods, severe weather events, heat waves, thunderstorms and lightning, he said.

The scientist further said a coastal mission is also planned for an integrated coastal multi-hazard warning system for addressing hydro-meteorological, geological and ecosystem related hazards.

“Our other priority areas are modeling and prediction of weather and climate. Due to global warming, there is an apprehension of increasing frequency of severe weather events over the country,” Nair said. “Therefore, it is a challenge for us to predict the extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, storm surge and heat waves,” he added.

To support the Blue Economy initiative taken up by the government, it is planned to have detailed ocean survey of Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf and exploration of minerals from deep oceans, he said.

“We will be also developing suitable technologies for water, energy and minerals from deep oceans. An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant is being set up at Kavaratti by 2019 to generate clean energy from ocean. Development of manned submersibles and a mining system also is planned to facilitate deep ocean mining,” he said.

Development and demonstration of low-temperature thermal desalination plant utiliding the underwater temperature difference between the sea surface and deeper depths at Kavaratti for generating one lakh litre of freshwater per day since 2005 till date has opened frontiers of new possibilities in addressing the water woes of islands.

This is an ideal technology for the islands and other water starving coastal cities, Nair said. Earlier, he was honoured with doctorate by GITAM University Chancellor Prof K Ramakrishna Rao. GITAM University president MVVS Murthi and Vice- Chancellor Prof M S Prasada Rao were also present on the occasion. Music maestro Ilayaraja, too, was honoured.