The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has plans of installing improved Doppler Weather Radars in the districts of Bhagalpur and West Champaran of Bihar to provide better weather prediction and improve the area in the early warning system. The relocation should go a long way in enhancing the preparedness of the state to severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, and floods.
According to the officials, the placement of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) will allow monitoring the movement of the clouds, the speed of the wind, the intensity of rainfall, and the movement of the storms with more accuracy. Unlike traditional weather monitoring systems, Doppler radars have the capability to track the speed and orientation of the rain-carrying clouds and give live information that is used to make timely warnings to meteorologists.
The climate of Bihar is really very hostile, especially during the monsoon period. Northern districts such as West Champaran tend to be susceptible to flooding owing to the rivers that originate in Nepal, whereas there are various areas with repeated incidences of thunderstorms and lightning. The new radar systems will help seal the coverage gaps and give localized forecasts, which will be vital to the disaster management authorities, farmers and residents.
The enhanced forecasting ability will enable officials to give early warnings, which may take one to two hours before the occurrence of severe weather conditions like lightning strikes or severe storms. Such early warning will be useful to minimize human and material casualties by allowing individuals to take precautionary measures. The farmers, in particular, will be benefitted by the correct rainfall forecasts, which help in planning and safeguarding crops.
The project is also in line with the overall effort by India to enhance its weather surveillance. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), together with the ISRO, has been increasing the network of Doppler radars in the country to enhance the forecasting of extreme weather conditions. Increased radar coverage is believed to be one of the major steps in developing climate resilience, particularly in states that have high chances of natural disasters.
The development has been welcomed by local authorities, who have added that better forecasting will help in providing a better plan of action when it comes to flood control, emergency response, and safety awareness campaigns to the local population. Once the radars in Bhagalpur and West Champaran are operational, they should be connected to the national weather monitoring system through which the data sharing and the alerts are likely to be coordinated.
Doppler Weather Radars will be an enormous breakthrough in weather forecasting in Bihar. With climate variability on the rise and extreme weather events becoming a common occurrence, these technological upgrades are being viewed as fundamental to the protection of lives, agriculture and infrastructure in sensitive areas.
