Collaborative opportunity between USA and India on Weather
and Climate Science
The prediction of monsoon and climate especially over Indian
subcontinent is a challenging task for meteorologist because of its complex nature.
Indian summer monsoon is life line of Indian people and economy
but is a peculiar and mysterious phenomenon either due to our limited
understanding on it or due to its unpredictable nature. The
future prediction of monsoon and climate is done by using
numerical models which is the only tool to provide future state of
Faculty, Centre for weather and climate. These models are mathematical models
Environmental Sciences,which represent dynamics of fluid flow and nearly all known physical
Central University of processes in monsoon and climate system in terms of differential
mathematics. These mathematical equations and physical formulas
representing monsoon and climate dynamics are written in computer
programme languages which are generally execute on high speed computing
facility. More complex models need sophisticated computing facility like super computer.
There are varieties of models ranging from global to regional levels to capture weather and
climate features from global to regional level respectively. Obviously, the global level models
are able to capture global behaviour of weather and climate with a coarsely spatial resolved
resolution whereas regional models can capture high spatially resolved resolution.
These mathematical models are not accurate due to our limited understanding on
the monsoon and climate system which obstruct the formulation and solution of these
mathematical equations and physical formulas. Lack of accurate solution of these equations,
generally leads to inaccurate prediction of monsoon and climate system. Most of the
countries in the world have their own models according the dominating physical processes
over there. Unfortunately, India does not have its own mathematical model for weather and
climate studies and depends on easily available models from foreign countries.
To over comes these issues, the National Action Plan of Climate Change (NAPCC)
has suggested key points for the enhancement of research and development activities
in the country. The document is based on the key inputs and suggestion by scientific
experts in their respective research areas. The document says that there is an urgent need
to improve the understanding of key phenomena and processes, including, monsoon
dynamics and ecosystem responses in climate system and this can be achieved by developing
high resolution Atmosphere Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCM) to predict
climate change by pooling institutional capabilities and computational resources. For the
development of General Circulation Models (GCM), there is a need to build national level
core climate modelling groups to develop high resolution coupled AOGCM that effectively
simulate monsoon behaviour. These would be employed for multi-ensemble and multi-year
simulations of the present and future climate. Indigenous Regional Climate Models (RCM)
is necessary to generate accurate future climate projections up to (at least) district level.
NAPCC suggested the future action plan to enhance the computing facility and man power in
India to improve research and development in weather and climate.
Few countries like USA, UK and Japan have remarkable strength of research and
development in weather and climate. They are very efficient and accurate on future prediction
of monsoon and climate through mathematical modelling and high speed computing facility.
With this fact, Indian scientists are generally collaborating with experts of these countries on individual research benefits but not on the country level for operational purposes.
Recently the secretary, ministry of earth science visited to USA to explore the
opportunity to collaboration on weather and climate. In the light of recent visit of US
President Mr. Obama, there are good hope on strong collaboration on various fronts of
Science and Technology. In my views, the ministry of earth science and ministry of science
and technology India should move ahead to make official collaboration with USA for better
operational forecasting and prediction of monsoon and climate and associated natural hazards
which can save million of life and economy of the country which is losing every year..
Pradhan parthasarthy
Faculty, Centre For Environmental Sciences,
Central University of Bihar
