Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow

World Meteorological Day: March 23

Dr. Parveen Kumar

An interdisciplinary science entrusted with the task of providing actionable intelligence to all for thriving in an unpredictable atmospheric environment; Meteorology has become an inevitable science in our day to day life. By focusing on three basic aspects of observation, understanding and prediction of weather, it enables accurate weather forecasting, early warnings for natural disasters and optimized agricultural planning thereby saving millions of precious lives and help manage environmental risks. Of the numerous fields where Meteorology holds enormous relevance include Disaster Management, Food security, Aviation, Energy production, Climate Change & Environment and Air quality monitoring. Globally, around 90% of major disasters are weather, climate, or water related. Accurate forecasting and timely early warning systems save lives and reduce losses from severe storms and heat waves to floods and cyclones. Early warnings for severe events like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes (tropical cyclones/severe winter storms) allow for evacuations and preparation, directly saving lives and preventing economic damage. Thus helps in disaster management. It is very vital for agriculture sector too. The timely forecasts help farming community to take real time decisions regarding their various farm operations. This also gives the government time to plan for safety measures in advance in case of floods, droughts or other weather extremities. We have seen how timely weather forecasts by weatherman help the fishermen in coastal areas to devise their fishing strategies accordingly thereby saving their lives as well as their tools and implements. In the aviation sector, accurate reports on wind speed, direction and visibility help in scheduling various flight routes efficiently and preventing accidents. Similarly utility companies use meteorological data to predict energy demand (e.g., heating/cooling) and maximize renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Meteorological data is also essential to track the dispersion of air pollutants, manage fire risks, and understand long-term climate change. Keeping in mind the role and relevance of meteorology, March 23 every year is being celebrated as World Meteorological Day all across the globe. March 23 commemorates the establishment of World Meteorological Organization in 1950.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO): The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), founded in 1873 to facilitate international weather data exchange. The WMO was officially established on March 23, 1950 by the WMO Convention, and became a specialized United Nations agency in March 17, 1951. Headquartered in Geneva, it coordinates global scientific cooperation on weather, climate, water, and related environmental issues. In the decade of 1960-1970 WMO expanded its scope, launching the World Weather Watch (satellite and telecommunication networks) and addressing climate change, particularly with the creation of regional offices. In 1990s, the WMO in collaboration with other organizations advances the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) thereby playing a key role in climate change monitoring. At present the WMO consists of 193 Member States and serves as the authoritative voice on the Earth’s atmosphere, climate, and water resources. The organization focuses on standardizing weather data, facilitating technology exchange, and supporting disaster risk reduction through early warning systems. Since its formation, the WMO has led international cooperation in weather, climate, and hydrological science. It coordinates global data sharing, advances research, and supports early warning systems that enable countries to better prepare for hazards.

AGRO-METEROLOGY: Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. More than 65 percent of the people are engaged in agriculture and allied sectors. Agriculture sector also contributes about 17 to 18 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Weather plays an important role in ensuring food and nutritional security and also to ensure that it remains a sustainable source of livelihood for the vast majority of population engaged in this sector. Weather along with Climate is an important input that plays a decisive role in food grains production. It would not be wrong to say that these two determine the success of different crops grown by the farmers everywhere. With more than 50% of the net sown area in the country under rainfed conditions with no assured source of irrigation, timely and adequate amount of rainfall is of utmost importance otherwise farmers have to face crop failures even after repeated sowing especially in Kharif season. One way of avoiding this crop failures as well as financial losses is to ensure that farmers get timely information on the rainfall, weather and climate of the area so that he or she can plan his operations as per the availability of rainfall and the condition of other weather parameters. Predicting the monsoon that accounts for 70 per cent of the annual precipitation can act as a catalyst for augmenting farm production. India is among those countries in the world that has successfully exploited space technology and land based observation for generating regular updates on crop production statistics and providing inputs to achieve sustainable agriculture. This is what is achieved through Agro-meteorology. It is study of weather and use of weather and climate information to enhance or expand agricultural crops and/or increase crop production. As an interdisciplinary holistic science which acts as a bridge between physical and biological sciences, it deals with all the weather sensitive elements of agriculture production and beyond. Keeping in mind the importance of weather conditions and its forecasting in agriculture, the government of India in the year 1988 started a project ‘Crop Acreage and Production estimation (CAPE)’. The project was intended to collect the statistics of agricultural output in the country. This nationwide (CAPE) project covered the major growing regions in the country for wheat, rice, cotton groundnut rapeseed/mustard and Rabi sorghum. Production forecasts were made about a month before the harvesting using multiband remote sensing data. India has very well developed system for collection of crop statistics covering more than fifty crops at village level and aggregating it at different administrative levels. Different agencies/institutes and programmes associated with Agro-meteorology in the country include:

MNCFC: A Centre for the purpose of forecasting weather related information has also been set up. The Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre (MNCFC) has been also set up at PUSA Rajendra Nagar New Delhi under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI for applications of space and geospatial technology in various domains of agriculture. It has been providing operational forecasts of crops from 2012-13 season onwards and also assessment of drought situation using state of art technologies and methodologies developed by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).  Over the years, the institute has developed to a broader government resource for leveraging space based technologies in agriculture.

Forecasting Agricultural Output Using Space and Land Based Observations (FASAL): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare, Government of India satisfied with performance of CAPE therefore evolved another project from it entitled ‘Forecasting agricultural output using space, Agro meteorology and land based observations (FASAL)’ with a purpose to target multiple crops at different crop growth stages. FASAL is also managed by MNCFC and aims at forecasting of production of important agricultural crops using satellite remote sensing. The implementation of FASAL initiated in 2007-08 with Space Application Centre (SAC) entrusted with the responsibility of implementing space technology based production forecasts of crops and upgradation of procedure with new data availability. The main aim of the project is to collect monsoon data through remote sensing, economic data and monitoring of crops when growing. It deals with a complex system involving soil plant, atmosphere agricultural management operations and others which are interacting dynamically on various spatial and temporal scales. It provides timely pre harvest estimates for 9 major crops at national, state and district level to support griculture policy and planning.

Grameen Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS): The Ministry of Earth Sciences also provides Agro-meteorological Advisory Services (AAS) in the country under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme. The scheme is implemented by India Meteorological Department of Ministry in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities /Indian Council of Agricultural Research etc. Under GKMS accurate crop specific advisories to the farmers are provided to the farmers across the country. Under this, district level weather forecast for next 5-days in respect of rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity and clouds, weekly cumulative rainfall forecast and Crop specific advisories are provided to farmers. GKMS of IMD has been successful in providing crop specific advisories to farmers through different print/visual/Radio/IT based media including short message service (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response Service (IVRS) facilitating appropriate field level actions. Based on the weather forecast, Agromet Advisories are prepared in collaboration with 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs) and communicated to the farming community. GKMS also addresses climate change issue by giving two updates on weather in a week on every Tuesday and Friday.

District Agro-Meteorological Units (DAMU): These were set up as a part of Grameen Krishi Mausam Sewa established by IMD and operate within Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to bring specialized weather advice closer to farmer. Automatic Weather Stations have been installed at the DAMUs. Over 40 million farmers were receiving advisories through these units.

Central Water Commission (CWC): The CWC also issues flood forecasting on International & Interstate Rivers as short-range forecasting and five day’s advance flood advisory.

Agro meteorology plays a distinct role in delineation of agro-climatic zones to make and take various decisions related to agricultural operations and policies besides providing logistic support to crop damage assessment and performing many other functions for the benefit of farming community and strengthening of farm sector. The theme of World Meteorological Day 2026, ‘Observing today, Protecting tomorrow’, highlights the critical link between the observations we make today and the safety we build for tomorrow. It focuses on how accurate and continuous observations of the atmosphere, various water bodies and land forms from the basis for reliable weather forecasts, climate monitoring, and early warning systems for mitigating disasters by focusing on three basic aspects of observation, understanding and prediction of weather.

(The author writes on agriculture and social issues; can be reached at pkumar6674@gmail.com)