Pune: India is making significant strides in advancing its scientific endeavors, with plans to synchronize the launch of two groundbreaking missions—Samudrayan and Gaganyaan—aimed at exploring both the depths of the ocean and the vastness of space simultaneously.
According to Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Samudrayan project will undergo harbor testing by the end of this year, marking the first step towards sending a manned submarine to unprecedented depths.
Initial tests will see the submarine dive to depths of 5 to 10 meters, with plans to reach 500 meters next year and an ambitious 6,000 meters by 2026.
This announcement was made during the inauguration of a month-long fellowship training program, ‘Forecaster Competency Development,’ organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune.
The program is designed to enhance the skills of weather forecasters from across the globe, with participants from 15 countries, including Myanmar, Yemen, Maldives, and Saudi Arabia, along with representatives from the IMD.
Dr. Ramachandran, who addressed the press following the inauguration, emphasized the importance of analysis, communication, and teamwork in weather forecasting.
He noted that, in addition to data analysis, human intelligence plays a pivotal role in making accurate forecasts. "Earning public trust by conveying scientific information in simple language is crucial," he remarked.
In a bid to improve local weather forecasting accuracy, efforts are being made to upgrade India’s forecasting systems. The current system, which provides forecasts for a 12-kilometer radius, is set to be enhanced to cover a 5-kilometer radius, thanks to the increased capacity of supercomputers.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the IMD, highlighted that the training program aims to bridge capacity gaps by leveraging processes, data, technology, and weather models to create smart meteorologists.
Meanwhile, Dr. R. Krishnan, Director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, pointed out that the frequency of adverse weather events is rising, necessitating a broader perspective in forecasting efforts.