IMD plans high-performance computing deployment to enhance extreme weather forecast

• IMD to deploy high-performance computing for more accurate extreme weather forecasts
• Resolution to improve from 12 km to 6 km, addressing challenges in predicting events like the Tamil Nadu rainfall
• Union Earth Sciences minister Kiren Rijiju discusses advancements in cyclone predictions 

IMD is set to leverage high-performance computing to enhance the accuracy of extreme weather forecasts, particularly after recent criticism for failing to predict heavy rains in Tamil Nadu. As the agency approaches its 150th anniversary in 2025, Union Earth Sciences ministry secretary M Ravichandran emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of changing weather patterns.

Advanced computing systems will be installed to provide very high-resolution observations, improving resolution from 12 km to 6 km. Responding to concerns about the unpredictability of events like the Tamil Nadu rainfall, Ravichandran highlighted the IMD's world-class models and expressed confidence in overcoming challenges posed by coastal influences and sudden convection developments.

Speaking at the launch of IMD's new logo, Union Earth Sciences minister Kiren Rijiju acknowledged the imperative role of accurate forecasts in disaster management, emphasizing the improvements made in cyclone predictions. Rijiju also mentioned the challenges posed by events like glacial lake bursts and cloudbursts, emphasizing the need for more observatories to predict such occurrences.

Additionally, he raised the prospect of "weather management" through geoengineering processes like cloud seeding, acknowledging the sensitive nature of such interventions. Ravichandran added that cloud seeding could be employed to suppress rainfall, indicating the agency's commitment to exploring diverse strategies for accurate weather predictions.