Lok Sabha Question No. 2937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Cloud Observatory
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, P.R. SUNDARAM, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## 2937. SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up a high altitude cloud observatory near Munnar in  Kerala;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  objective  behind the move along with the details of   benefits    the region is likely to get as a result thereof;
- (c) the  estimated  cost  involved  in  setting  up  of  this  high  altitude  cloud observatory;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up such facilities in other parts of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government in mapping the impact of climate change on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, biodiversity and forestry sectors in the long run?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND

## ANSWER MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) Yes  Madam.  Recently  a  high  altitude cloud physics  observatory  was established  at  Munnar  (Kerala),  in  Western  Ghats,  the  region  which  is gateway for the monsoon of India.
- (b) High altitude cloud physics observatory at Munnar is used to observe cloud and rain processes over that region with state of the art observations. Such facility will enable understanding of rainfall distribution and will allow better characterization  of  rainfall  processes  in  the  numerical  models  used  for prediction of monsoon rainfall.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2937

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

## CLOUD OBSERVATORY

It is expected that long term monitoring of cloud and rainfall processes will enable accurate representation of cloud micro-physical process in forecast models  to  improve  over  all  skill  of  rainfall  prediction  for  severe  weather phenomena viz, heavy rainfall, thunderstorm etc., not only over Kerala but for the whole country.

- (c) An allocation is Rs. 10 Crore is made for the establishment of the laboratory.

(d) High  altitude  cloud  physics  laboratories  are  functional  at  Mahabaleshwar (Konkan)  and  Munnar  (Kerala)  to  study  the  monsoon  cloud  microphysics process modulated by the Western Ghats only and hence no such additional facility are contemplated.

(e) Studies were undertaken in four climate sensitive regions of the country, viz. Himalayan Region, Western Ghats, North Eastern Region and Coastal Areas to  assess  the  possible  impacts  on  the  four  sectors  viz.  agriculture,  water, forests  and  health  and  associated  ecosystem.  A  Report  entitled,  Climate Change & India: A 4X4 Assessment - A Sectoral and Regional Assessment of Impact of Climate Change in 2030s, has been released by the Government during  November,  2010  under  the  aegis  of  the  Indian  Network  of  Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).

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