In News:

Mission Mausamaims to not just improve weather forecasting in the country but also ‘manage’ certain weather events, and on demand, enhance or suppress rainfall, hail, fog and, later, lightning strikes.

• Focus Areas:
  • Enhancing or suppressing rainfall, hail, fog, and later, lightning strikes on demand.
  • Strengthening cloud physics research to better understand and modify weather conditions.

• Establishment of Cloud Chamber:
  • Location: The cloud chamber is being built at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune.
  • Purpose: To study cloud physics in detail and develop methods for weather modification.
  • Key Feature: It will be a convective cloud chamber, capable of simulating conditions specific to Indian monsoon clouds.

What is a Cloud Chamber?

• A scientific apparatus that mimics the conditions required for cloud formation.
• Function: Water vapour, aerosols, and other particles are injected into the chamber, and under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, clouds can be formed.
• Global Context: While many countries have cloud chambers, India is building one with convection properties, which are essential for studying monsoon clouds. Only a few such chambers exist globally.

Why India Needs a Convective Cloud Chamber?

• Cloud Physics: The chamber will allow scientists to study various phenomena such as:
  • Cloud behaviour under normal and extreme conditions.
  • Formation of rain droplets and ice particles.
  • Influence of moisture from cyclones or low-pressure systems.
  • Interactions between different cloud layers.
• Objective: To gain insights into cloud formation specific to the Indian monsoon and develop strategies for weather modification.

Applications for Weather Modification:

• The cloud chamber will help scientists simulate and understand how to influence weather events like rain and fog, particularly in monsoon systems.
• It will allow testing of new ideas and theories under controlled conditions, adjusting temperature, humidity, and convection parameters to suit Indian weather conditions.

India’s Experience with Cloud Seeding:

• Cloud Seeding: A technique tested in India to enhance rainfall by introducing particles (seeds) into clouds.
• CAIPEEX Program: India conducted the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) over a decade to study cloud seeding's effectiveness.
  • Findings: Cloud seeding increased rainfall by up to 46% in some regions, showing its potential under specific conditions.
  • Limitations: Cloud seeding is not a one-size-fits-all solution and is effective only under certain conditions.

Significance for India’s Weather Forecasting:

• Improved Weather Modification: The cloud chamber and insights from it could lead to better management of weather events, especially in regions affected by monsoon rains, cyclones, and droughts.
• Tailored Strategies: India will be able to implement targeted weather interventions, especially in agricultural regions, to reduce the negative impacts of extreme weather.

???????Global and Regional Relevance:

• Cloud Chamber: The Pune facility will be one of the few globally with the specific focus on convective properties needed to study Indian monsoon systems.
• Role in Climate Science: India’s investment in cloud physics research positions it at the forefront of developing technologies to manage climate variability and extreme weather events.