SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, on Wednesday launched the Mission Mausam Urban Testbed and observational facilities, developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The facility is aimed at monitoring aerosols, clouds, precipitation, atmospheric dynamics, and thermodynamic parameters across the city to enhance monsoon prediction and provide early warnings of severe weather.

M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, inaugurated the facility in the presence of A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM, Pune; R. Shivakumar, Chairman, SRMIST, Ramapuram, Chennai & Trichy; Thara Prabhakaran, Project Director, IITM; and M. Sakthi Ganesh, Dean (E&T), SRMIST.

“Mission Mausam was established to revolutionise early action on weather and its impact,” Ms. Prabhakaran said. “All components of energy and water are observed and modelled to better forecast and inform decision-making, so as to alleviate the adverse impacts of severe weather,” she added.

“While this partnership is rooted in engineering, atmospheric science, and technology, its ultimate impact will be felt in the health and well-being of the people,” Dr. Shivakumar said.

Mr. Rao asked the young researchers and students in the audience to use the facility as a tool to challenge existing theories and propose new hypotheses.

Furthermore, Mr. Ravichandran said Mission Mausam was one of the projects that received quick approval from the Central government. He added that since Chennai was a natural laboratory for tropical weather, observing its weather patterns was essential, hence the launch of the observatory in the city.

Inaugural of SRMIST’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences Research and Innovation also took place, along with the signing of an MoU between SRMIST and IITM. The MoU will facilitate collaboration in research and academic activities in weather and climate sciences.

Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai; R.S. Kankara, Director, National Centre for Coastal Research; S.D. Pai, Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD Chennai; and Mr. Ganesh also spoke.

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