Why in the News?
Ministry of Earth Sciences unveils Bharat Forecast System (BFS), one of the world's first indigenously developed high-resolution weather forecast systems.
About Bharat Forecast System
- Developed by: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Role: It enhances India's weather prediction resolution from 12 km to 6 km, enabling every village in India to access more precise and location-specific forecasts.
- Data Sources: Integrates real-time inputs from 40 Doppler Weather Radars, improving accuracy of localised forecasts and nowcasts.
- Doppler Radar is a specific type of radar that uses the doppler effect (Change in frequency of wave emitted by a source moving relative to the observer) to gather velocity data from particles that are being measured.
Significance of BFS
- Improved accuracy and speed: Delivers 64% better accuracy in high-risk zones and produces forecasts within 4–6 hours, especially for extreme events like heavy rainfall and cyclones.
- Earlier weather forecasting models required around 12 to 14 hours to produce predictions for a specific area.
- Global Leadership: Positions India ahead of countries like the US, UK, and EU by achieving 6 km resolution (compared to 9–14 km in global models).
- Support for Disaster Management & Agriculture:
- Enables tailored short-range and nowcasts at village and block level.
- Assists farmers, coastal communities, and disaster management agencies in crop planning, irrigation scheduling, and early warning.
- Economic Benefits: Helps reduce climate-related losses in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and water management.
- Powered by High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems – Arka (IITM Pune) and Arunika (National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Delhi) – to deliver faster simulations
- Regional Forecast: It allows for more accurate forecasting of tropical disturbances, including monsoons, cyclones, and extreme rainfall events hazards that disproportionately impact low- and middle-income countries.
Conclusion
The Bharat Forecast System reflects India's growing self-reliance in critical scientific infrastructure. As climate risks intensify, such advancements highlight the role of science in ensuring resilience and inclusive development.
