Lok Sabha Question No. 968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Weather Pattern
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 968

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, March 02, 2016

## Weather Pattern

## 968   SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  country  is  facing uncertainities in weather patterns from the last three years;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to provide the information to individuals regarding changes in the weather; and
- (d)
- (a)
- Yes Madam.
- (b) Monsoon  rainfall  varies  on  different  spatial  and  temporal  scales.  Extreme rainfall  events  that  occur  at  some  isolated  places  (viz.  heavy  rainfall  over Uttrakhand,2013; Jammu & Kashmir,2014;Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh in 2015) are highly localized and are largely part of the natural variability of the Indian  monsoon  system  itself.  Although,  some  recent  studies  suggest  an increasing frequency and intensity of extremes in rainfall during the past 4050  years,  their  attribution  to  global  warming  is  yet  to  be  established. Moreover,  the  report  of  the  Inter-  governmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change (IPCC)  and  our  country's  own  assessment  using  regional  climate  models indicate that the extreme rainfall events are likely to be more frequent in the later part of the 21st century in the world including India. Although, the monsoon  rainfall  at  all  India  level  does  not  show  any  trend,  areas  of increasing and decreasing trends at regional level are discerned.
- (c)-(d)ESSO-IMD  is  providing    specific  nowcasting  weather  service  across  the country.  This  service  activity  currently  covers  156  urban  centres  under which  nowcast  of  severe  weather  (Thunderstorms;  heavy  rainfall  from lows/depressions  over  the  land)  in  3-6h  range  is  issued.  The  weather information (Maximum, Minimum temperatures, Rainfall and Sky condition, etc.) and forecast for next 7 days for 310 important cities and towns in all the  states  and  union  territories  of  India  issued  by  the  ESSO-IMD  and  are made available on the National and Regional websites of ESSO-IMD. ESSOIMD,  in  coordination  with  State  Governments,  is  generating  forecasts  for major  pilgrimages  such  as  Amarnath  Yatra,  Mansarovar  Yatra,  Chardham Yatra, Kumbhmela,etc. and also various mountaineering expeditions launched  by  the  Armed  Forces  for  Mount  Everest  and  several  other Himalayan mountains.
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

The Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS ) of ESSO-IMD has been successful in providing the crop specific advisories to the farmers at the district level wider dissemination media including short message service (SMS) and Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS). Agrometeorological Advisories are sent to 1.50 million farmers currently across the country through SMS that contains twice weekly through different print/visual/Radio/ IT based abrupt  changes if any, in weather and its impact on crops. ESSO-IMD also provides Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) up to 72 h at  sub-basin  scale  through  Flood  Meteorological  Offices  (FMOs).  FMOs provide meteorological support to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for issuing flood warnings in respect of the 43 rivers of India covering 137 subbasins. CWC issues flood forecasts 6 h to 30 h in advance for 176 stations using QPF received from FMOs of ESSO-IMD and in-situ hydro-meteorological data.

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