(a) whether the Government has launched weather satellite mission to study monsoon and
climate changes;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the information so received will benefit India and other countries in the Indian ocean region;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the above is one of the early satellites for climate research; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THEMINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) The Government has recently launched a Megha-Tropiques weather satellite mission on
12th October 2011 for improved understanding of weather and climate processes through obtaining
reliable statistics of the water and energy budget in the tropical atmosphere so as to describe
the evolution of its systems (monsoons and cyclones) at appropriate time scales. Thus, this
mission provides opportunity to critically study water cycle of the tropical atmosphere in the
context of climate variability and change.
(b) The Megha-Tropiques consists of three radiometric instruments allowing to observe
simultaneously three interrelated components of the atmospheric engine - water vapour,
condensed water (clouds and precipitations), and radiative fluxes that has a privilege sampling
the atmosphere all through day and night with all-weather viewing capabilities. It will pass
over India almost a dozen times every day, thus giving opportunity for an almost real- time
assessment of the evolution of clouds. Multi-frequency Microwave Scanning Radiometer would
complement other global research efforts of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
(c) Yes Madam.
(d) The satellite mission will benefit India and other countries in tropical Indian Ocean
region as the availability of above mentioned parameters will help the countries to study
monitor and forewarn the evolution of weather systems.
(e) No Madam.
(f) Does not arise.