Hyderabad, June 20: Hyderabad will soon have a state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) with the help of which weather can be predicted more accurately. The radar, being is installed at Begumpet as part of the modernisation programme launched by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), is likely to become operational in the last week of July.
Talking with reporters here today after holding a review meeting with higher officials of the deterological department, Marri Sashidhar Reddy, member of the National Disaster Management Authority, said the IMD was replacing its old and conventional radars with the state-of-the-art S-band DWRs in a phased manner at different locations in the country, mainly near the coatal areas. The first such one was installed at Palam near Delhi. Each radar is capable of covering a distance of 500 km and its observations will be supplemented by satellite observations. It will alsol issue athentic weather forecast for smooth flight operations.
“Already Rs 15 crore has been spent on the installation of the Doppler Weather Radar which has captured a few images during trial operationsl. The radar will pick up more accurate information about the turbulence and wind speed of the atmosphere before the occurrence of a cyclone or heavy shower. It will be able to predict the quantity of rainfall, and also the rainfall average, precipitation intensity, early detection of thunderstorms that may bring large hail, heavy rain, strong wind and tornados. The twin cities need more such radars,’’ Sashidhar Reddy added.
TK Reddy, director of Doppler Weather Radar in the MET department said the new radar would be installed atop a 6-storeyed building. A doppler radar emits microwaves that monitor moving weather systems and help weathermen analyse weather conditions to predict timely warnings against turbulent thunderstorms or cyclones. It can measure rainfall intensity, wind speeds, directions, and reveal cloud formations up to 200 km from the radar location. The device can update such information every five minutes compared to 15-30 minutes taken by satellites. The device is crucial because rainfall patterns are getting increasingly erratic.
The radar is being installed with the assistance of Beijing Mestar Radar Company limited.
“It is an S-band single polarised doppler radar operating on 2850 Mhz frequency. The radar can detect targets in a range of 500 km. The radar can be used for rainfall estimation in a range of about 150 km radius around the radar site and for general weather surveillance up to about 250 km,’’ he added.
–IANS