Status and Plans for Operational Tropical Cyclone Forecasting and Warning Systems in the North Indian Ocean Region - Monitoring and Prediction of Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Climate Change - page 162

after its landfall and adverse weather likely to be experienced in the interior
areas. All the above warnings are issued by ACWCs/CWCs and CWD. Different
colour codes are being used since post monsoon season of 2006 at different
stages of the cyclone warning bulletins (cyclone alert—yellow, cyclone
warning—orange and post landfall outlook—red), as desired by the National
Disaster Management.
During cyclone situations, warning bulletins are broadcast through All
India Radio (AIR) and electronic and print media. Various telecommunication
channels used for warning dissemination include internet, e-mail, SMS,
telephone, wireless telegraphy and radio telephony (WT/RT), VHF, police
wireless, All India Radio, official television (Door Darshan) and satellite-based
cyclone warning system located along the coast.
7. Conclusions and Future Scope
IMD continuously expands and strengthens its activities in relation to observing
strategies, forecasting techniques, disseminating methods and research relating
to different aspects of tropical cyclones to ensure most critical meteorological
support to disaster managers and decision makers not only in the country but
also to the NIO rim countries. All the above areas are being addressed through
the ongoing modernisation programme of IMD.
A special project, 'Forecast Demonstration Project on landfalling cyclones
over the Bay of Bengal' is being taken up for improvement in understanding
and prediction of cyclones. It is planned to carry out aircraft probing of cyclone
and drop-wind-sonde experiment during October-November 2013-14. It is
aimed to demonstrate the ability of various numerical weather prediction (NWP)
models to assess the genesis, intensification and movement of TCs over the
NIO with enhanced observations and to incorporate modification into the models
which could be specific to the NIO. In addition to minimising the error in
monitoring and hence prediction of TCs, it will help in (a) validation of Dvorak
technique, (b) validation of pressure-wind relationship, (c) understanding and
prediction of structure of TCs, (d) development/validation of wind conversion
factor as required for preparation of standardised international best tracks
archives and (e) re-analysis of best tracks of TCs. Other major challenges include
(i) assimilation of regional data in NWP models, (ii) development of ensemble
prediction system based on IMD GFS and WRF models for strike probability
and (iii) development of TC wind probability and threat graphics.
On 12 th October, 2011 another Polar orbiting satellite Megha Tropiques is
launched which covers the area 20º N to 20º S. Megha Tropiques has three
payloads as mentioned below:
• Madras: A microwave imager aimed mainly at studying precipitation and
clouds properties.
• Saphir: A Six-channel microwave radiometer for the retrieval of water vapour
vertical profiles and horizontal distribution.