Lok Sabha Question No. 2794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Megha-Tropiques Satellite
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## 2794.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2794

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

## MEGHA-TROPIQUES SATELLITE

## SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  have launched  a  satellite  named  Megha-Tropiques  for  the  study  of monsoon;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  use  of  the  Satellite  for  tracking  weather  and climate changes of tropical and non-tropical areas of the country;
- (d)
- the relevance of the said satellite in agriculture sector, if any; and
- (e) whether  the  National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  has entered  into  any  agreement  with  National  Remote  Servicing Centre (NRSC) and North East Centre for Technology Application and  Research  (NECTAR)  for  the  monitoring  and  management  of traffic on National Highways and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

## (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a)&(b)  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched Meghaobjective of the satellite is towards study of the
- Tropiques  (MT)  satellite  [a  joint  mission  of  ISRO  and  French National Space Agency (CNES)], on October 12, 2011. The primary tropical atmosphere  and  the  convective  cloud  systems  that  profoundly influence  both  weather  and  climate.  The  satellite  is  placed  in  a

highly  inclined  orbit  (~  20°  latitude)  to  enable  frequent  temporal sampling  of  3  to  6  visits  per  day  depending  on  the  latitude.  It carries three payloads -MADRAS  (Microwave  Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures), SAPHIR (Sounder for  Atmospheric  Profiling  of  Humidity  in  the  Inter-tropics  by Radiometry),  SCARAB  (Scanner  for  Radiation  Budget)  and  ROSA (Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmosphere).

- (c) The humidity profile data of SAPHIR  is being operationally assimilated in the numerical weather models by India Meteorology Department  for  weather  forecasting.  Observations  of  radiation from  SCARAB  instrument  provide  valuable  information  about  the radiation  balance  over  the  tropical  region.  The  monitoring  and analysis  of  the  Earth's  radiation  is  of  prime  concern  due  to  its direct linkage with global warming and climate change.
- (d) The improved weather prediction by using horizontal and vertical distribution  of  humidity  profiles  from  SAPHIR  and  solar  radiation data  from  SCARAB  along  with  data  from  INSAT  are  helpful  in generation of agro-meteorological advisories and pre-harvest wheat yield forecasts.
- (e) National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed Memorandum  of  Understanding (MoU) with National  Remote Sensing  Centre  (NRSC)  under  ISRO  and  North  East  Centre  for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) under Department of  Science  &  Technology  (DST).  NRSC  would  facilitate  satellite data  and  Geospatial  technology  support  to  provide  inputs  for prefeasibility  status  in  new  alignments,  preparation  of  Detailed Project Reports, monitoring of road segments under construction. As  understood,  NECTAR  would  help  NHAI  in  planning  the  roads and monitor its construction progress/activity.

*****