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India has a vibrant space science programme covering astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and earth science and theoretical physics. The space science activities are mainly carried out at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram and ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore. DOS has set up ground-based facilities like Udaipur Solar Observatory, Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar, etc. Balloons, sounding rockets and satellite platforms are used for flying scientific instruments. DOS also supports space science research in universities and research institutions on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Space Science (ADCOS) and participates in international scientific campaigns like MONEX, IGBP, STEP and INDOEX. Scientific Missions Chandrayaan-1
Chandrayaan-1 is India's first scientific mission to moon, to be undertaken during 2007-08. The mission is aimed at expanding the scientific knowledge about the moon, upgrading India's technological capability and providing challenging opportunities for planetary research to the younger generation. The scientific objectives of Chandrayaan-1 are the high resolution remote sensing of the moon in the visible, near infrared, low energy X-ray and high-energy X-ray regions for preparing a 3-dimensional atlas of regions of scientific interest with a high spatial and altitude resolution of 5-10 m and chemical mapping of the entire lunar surface for elements such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, calcium, iron and titanium with a spatial resolution of 10 km and elements of high atomic numbers (z), such as 222 radon, uranium, thorium and gadolinium with a spatial resolution of 20 km. The spacecraft for Chandrayaan-1 will be a 1.5 m cuboid with a dry weight of 525 kg in its final lunar orbit. It will be 3-axis stabilised and powered by solar array generating 750 W of electrical power. It will have a Lithium-Ion battery back-up for operation during eclipse. The spacecraft will use a bipropellant propulsion system for transferring it from GTO to lunar orbit and for orbit and attitude maintenance. PSLV will launch the spacecraft into GTO. Two consecutive in-plane perigee manoeuvre, using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on board the spacecraft, will raise the apogee to 3,86,000 km, which is very close to the moon (Lunar Transfer Trajectory -LTT). It will take 5½ days for the spacecraft to approach the moon. When the spacecraft is at peri-selene (nearest point in an orbit around the moon), another manoeuvre using LAM will place the spacecraft in a near circular 1,000 km orbit of the moon. In this orbit, the solar panel of the spacecraft will be deployed. Subsequently, the orbit height will be reduced to 200 km and after studying the orbit perturbations at this height, the altitude will be reduced to 100 km circular polar orbit. Chandrayaan-1 will have the following payloads designed and developed in India:
Besides the above, the following scientific instruments have been short listed to be flown on Chandrayaan-1:
It is also proposed to incorporate an Impact Probe as part of the mission for proving technological elements required for future landing missions. During the year, considerable progress was made under the Chandrayaan-1 with the finalisation of spacecraft configuration, selection and development of core science payloads and selection of payloads from the proposals received in response to the Announcement of Opportunity made by ISRO. Detailed discussions have been held to optimise accommodation of science payloads, spacecraft interface and mission operation related aspects. Site survey, including noise survey and elevation profiles, has been completed for the Deep Space Network Station to be established at Bangalore to support the spacecraft at a slant range of upto 4,00,000 km for TTC and payload data reception. Land acquisition is in progress. A National Science Data Centre to process raw data into user-friendly format will be set up at a suitable place. The biennial International Lunar Conference was organised in November, 2004 at Udaipur, jointly with European Space Agency. The main objective was to chalk out an international road map for long term exploration of moon and utilisation of lunar resources. ASTROSAT
The government has approved during year ASTROSAT mission con-ceived as a national project involving several academic institutions in the country. ASTROSAT will enable multi-wavelength studies of a variety of celestial sources and phenomena using a cluster of X-ray astronomy instruments and Ultraviolet (UV) imaging telescope. The scientific instruments include:
During the year, the development of scientific payloads has made considerable progress at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Astrophysics and ISRO Satellite Centre. New technologies are being developed for large area X-ray proportional counters, UV telescope optics and detector system of multi-channel plates and CCDs (in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency), coded mask aperture, grazing incidence low energy X-ray telescope using gold coated conical foils mirror assembly, collimators, detectors for better X-ray energy resolution, etc. Base line design of the payloads has been completed. The development of the prototype qualification models of all the payloads is in progress. The launch of ASTROSAT is planned in 2007-08. Megha-Tropiques Indian region being convectively very active in relation to monsoon dynamics, it is necessary to understand the life cycle of these convective systems and to understand their role in the associated energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere. Megha-Tropiques (Megha meaning cloud in Sanskrit and Tropiques meaning tropics in French) is envisaged for investigating the contribution of water cycle in the tropical atmosphere to climate dynamics. ISRO and French National Space Centre (CNES) had signed a Statement of Intent in November 1999 for undertaking the Megha-Tropiques mission. In May 2001, the two agencies signed the first MOU to jointly carry out the detailed design of the Megha-Tropiques mission. During the year, ISRO and CNES signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to proceed with the development and implementation of Megha-Tropiques. The satellite will carry three scientific instruments:
ISRO will build the Megha-Tropiques spacecraft and launch it using PSLV into 867 km high orbit at an inclination of 20 degrees with respect to the equatorial plane. ISRO will control the satellite in orbit and also receive, process and distribute the scientific data from the satellite. The launch of Megha-Tropiques is planned by 2008-2009. Space Science Activities at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) PRL at Ahmedabad is a premier research institute engaged in multi-disciplinary research in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics, planetary and space sciences, geosciences, theoretical physics and complex systems and quantum information. The laboratory has an extensive academic programme for doctoral and post doctoral research. It also encourages university teachers through its associateship programme. Astronomy and Astrophysics L and M band observations of the nova-like variable V4332 Sgr made from Hawaii revealed two significant results. These are the detection of water ice at 3.05 µm and the fundamental band of 12 CO at 4.67 µm in emission. Both these observations of a nova/nova-like source are first of this kind and show considerable difference between V4332 Sgr and classical novae. Massive star forming regions are difficult to study due to their relatively large distances (> 1 kpc) and short time scales compared to low mass star forming regions. A campaign has been started to study the Ultra-Compact HII regions associated with massive stars in small clusters. The objective is to classify pre-main sequence stars and estimate their masses to obtain initial stellar mass function using colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams as well as identify molecular outflows from these massive star-forming regions to investigate the energetic of such flows. The first and second overtone bands of CO molecule in the K and H bands in the AGB/Post AGB stars are important diagnostic signatures for studying the mass loss processes in the atmospheres of these stars. Using near-infrared spectrograph at Mt. Abu, H and K band spectra of about 50 stars have been obtained and the equivalent widths of the CO bands estimated. The study aims at finding possible variation in these bands with the evolution of intermediate mass stars and thus understand the progression of mass loss. Mira variables have complex and extended atmospheres with spherical symmetry in general but departures from this symmetry are known. From lunar occultation observations on Mira variable U Orionis carried out at Gurushikhar Observatory in the K-band, a model independent brightness profile with a marked asymmetry in both near central and outer regions has been generated. The programme of monitoring a sample of blazars using near infrared camera and optical polarimeter has continued.
Under an Indo-French collaborative project, a catalogue of more than 1,00,000 sources in the inner regions of the Milky Way has been made. From the study of these sources, many peculiar sources have been noticed. In an attempt to characterise this large stellar population, observational programme of optical spectroscopy has been taken up at the Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Hanle. Half a dozen giant radio galaxies and quasars were observed with the Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at Pune. The objective is to investigate the possibility of detecting a bridge of emission at low frequencies, which may be suppressed due to inverse-Compton losses against the cosmic microwave background radiation. A solar flare-Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) event has also been observed using GMRT. An M2.8 flare observed at 1060 MHz with the GMRT on 17 November, 2001 was associated with a prominence eruption observed at 17 GHz by the Nobeyama radio-heliograph and the initiation of a fast partial halo CME observed with the LASCO C2 coronograph. Towards start of the eruption, evidence for reconnection above the prominence has been observed. Subsequently, evidence for rapid growth of a vertical current sheet below the erupting arcade, which is accompanied by the flare and prominence eruption, has been found. Data of solar wind density and velocity along with the model of geomagnetic field has been used to estimate magnetopause position from the earth. The present work gives more quantitative values of magnetopause position and its variation during this event. Solar Physics Inward motions of magnetic features have been discovered within sunspot umbrae. Although the physical cause of these motions is not yet known, the discovery itself is of a fundamental nature.
The transit of Venus across the sun was recorded in H-alpha on June 8, 2004. The process of star formation is vital in understanding the cosmos. A spectral modeling, which includes hydrides and other molecular species is being carried out. Analysis of resulting theoretical spectral line profiles with observed ones will help to interpret the basic cooling mechanism in the star forming regions. Space and Atmospheric Sciences Spectral aerosol optical depths measured in situ in the 0.4-0.85 µm during 1996-2000 over the Arabian Sea and tropical Indian Ocean are analysed and the yearly and monthly-mean variations in the aerosol optical depths have been studied. The aerosol optical depths are found to exhibit inter-annual and monthly variations. Based on the coordinated measurements using a narrow band, narrow field-of-view multi-wavelength nightglow photometer and the Indian MST radar (in ionospheric mode), plasma enhancements in ESF (Equatorial Spread F) structures have been unambiguously identified. Micro variations had been observed during ESF events and absence of such variations during non-ESF nights. These micro variations evince the penetration of storm-time magnetospheric electric field into the low latitude region. A collaborative programme with the Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, for photo-ionisation experiments Synchrotron has been taken up. First results on multiple ionisation of Argon were obtained in February 2004. The chemistry of the lower ionosphere of Mars has been studied below 100 km using one dimensional model under photochemical equilibrium condition. The primary ionisation sources in the model are solar radiation and cosmic rays. Planetary and Geosciences The Sr isotopic composition in samples from the Himalayan rivers, evaporites and carbonates is being measured to assess the role of evaporites and the precipitation of Ca in controlling the Sr budget of these rivers. Studies on erosion rates of various basins of the Brahmaputra have been completed. The result for the eastern Himalaya shows that the erosion rate in the eastern Syntaxis is as high as 14 mm per year, similar to the reported exhumation rate for this region. New production has been measured in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Even though the Bay of Bengal is only moderately productive relative to the Arabian Sea, the new production is as much as 55 percent in the Bay. The implications are that moderately productive ocean regions could also play a very significant role in the global carbon cycle. A major study on the Mexican desert sequences has been completed with ages ranging from modern sands to ~80ka. Similarly a detailed study on the desert sequences in Mohave Desert was made to compare the available chronologies using radiocarbon and cosmogenic dating with luminescence dating and examine the possible causes of differences. Theoretical Physics and Complex System Activities of the high energy physics are concentrated in the study of neutrino physics, quantum chromo-dynamics and physics beyond standard model. One specific result obtained in this field was the realisation that neutrino physics experiments can help in searching for very weak forces mediated by some almost mass less gauge bosons. Interesting results have been obtained in the study of strange stars. There are experimental efforts to discover strange stars the stars containing strange quark matter. The estimation of radius and mass of these objects plays a crucial role in this study. In the ongoing study of atomic physics, an accurate expression of the radial dipole matrix element for radiative transition between nearly Rydberg states has been obtained. Further approximation on it allows one to state conditions under which the dipole matrix element tends to the limit obtained from the principle of correspondence. Stability analysis of synchronised structures in coupled map networks using both linear stability analysis and Lyapunov function explain the observed features of the phase diagrams in various networks. It has been found that the localised states of the coupled 3-D quartic oscillator show widely varying localisation length depending on whether the coupling strength is in the stable/unstable or the transition domain of the underlying classical periodic orbits. In the area of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, the activities cover a wide range of topics in the areas of quantum information science, coherent control of light in a variety of media, characterisation of coherence and polarisation properties of light, construction and study of coherent states, ultra cold Fermi and Bose systems, wavelet transform, study of waveguides and light beams with orbital angular momentum. A systematic study of experimentally realisable entangled Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen state has been carried out in a system involving ultra-old atoms. The possibility of realising a novel form of superconductivity in cold Fermi atoms has been demonstrated. Using dispersive interaction between atoms and a high quality cavity, a method has been proposed to realise the mesoscopic superposition of coherent states, which exhibit sub-Planck scale structure. A method of manipulating the Raman process by using a coherent control field which leads to splitting of the Raman gain peak into a doublet and anomalous dispersion in the region between the gain peaks is presented. It is shown how the region of almost no Raman gain and strong anomalous dispersion is ideally suited for producing superluminal propagation. Space Science Activities at National MST Radar Facility (NMRF), Gadanki During the year, NMRF at Gadanki near Tirupathi continued to carry out multi-instrument and multi-institutional scientific campaigns for collaborative research programmes and new system development and augmentation for enhancing observational capabilities. NMRF has also developed new research programmes and scientific studies. It is providing wind data to India Meteorological Department (IMD) for weather forecasting and Wind information, to support launches from SDSC-SHAR. NMRF has taken up an experimental programme with the objectives of understanding (1) evolution of convective clouds and their coupling with meso-to-large-scale precipitating systems, (2) investigation of structures of atmospheric waves in the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere, (3) studies of vertical structure of the atmosphere using Lidars and (4) variation of the thermosphere and ionosphere owing to the energy of atmospheric waves. The first phase of the experimental campaign has been conducted during the year. NMRF is participating in the rocket based experimental programme to study the middle atmospheric dynamics and coupling processes (MIDAS). It has also taken lead role to form an International Network of Tropical Atmosphere Radars to study equatorial atmospheric waves, annual and semi-annual oscillations, quasi-biennial oscillations and Walker circulations. The radars available at Christmas Island, Piura, Jicamarca, Gadanki, Bukitingi (Indonesia), MU radar (Japan), Chung-Li (Taiwan), Singapore, Biak, Darwin and Pohnpei will be operated simultaneously in a campaign mode to meet the above scientific objectives. Several scientific studies have been conducted using NMRF. Some of the important results are: (1) the intensity of Quasi-Biennial Oscillation near 20 km is more in the Indian sector as compared to that of the neighbouring longitudinal sectors during strong El-Nino, (2) influence of cyclone in the vicinity of tropopause, (3) detection of thin aerosol layers in the vicinity of tropical tropopause and (4) observation of dust layers migrated from the Arabian dust storm over Gadanki in the lower troposphere. NMRF has augmented its Lidar capability by developing the Sodium laser to study the gap region of 80-100 km. A portable Lidar has been developed to study boundary layer aerosol and cloud. NMRF has taken initiatives (1) to measure middle atmospheric winds by augmenting the Rayleigh Lidar with Doppler capability, and (2) to estimate electron density profile by measuring Faraday rotation of coherent radar signals from ionosphere. Space Science Activities at Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) SPL at Thiruvananthapuram carries out fundamental research in the branches of boundary layer physics, atmospheric aerosols, clouds, chemistry and radiation, atmospheric lidars, atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric technology and ionosphere-thermosphere-magnetosphere physics. Experimental data obtained from Radars, Lidars other ground-based equipment, balloons, rockets and satellites are used for the research activities. A chemical laboratory has been set up for the study of composition of atmospheric aerosols. Analysis of aerosol samples collected from Thiruvananthapuram has been initiated. The monthly and seasonal variations of optical and other physical properties of the atmospheric aerosols, aerosol layers and cirrus clouds in the lower atmosphere have been investigated. A new project on the space borne Lidar system for scientific investigations on atmospheric aerosols and clouds in the troposphere/lower stratosphere has been initiated. Two regional high-resolution atmospheric models, mesoscale model version-5 and high resolution model, were tested on an operational basis for short term forecasts (48 hours in advance) of zonal and meridional component winds up to about 20 km in height, at Sriharikota. Under MIDAS programme, fortnightly launchings of high altitude balloons were conducted along with RH-200 rocket launches from Thumba, Lidar observations on three days from Thumba and Gadanki, round the clock observations for five days around the rocket launch using partial reflection radar at Tirunelveli and MST radar observations at Gadanki. In the ionosphere-thermosphere studies, an important aspect of the dependence of a critical or threshold height for the thermospheric meridional wind to play a deterministic role in the occurrence of spread F and its dependence on solar activity has been brought out. To meet the scientific objectives of the Coherent Radio Beacon Experiment programme for the tomographic imaging of the ionosphere over India, a meridional chain of ground receivers comprising Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Delhi has been operationalised. A pulsed Doppler partial reflection radar with a peak power of 50 kW working at 2.5 MHz has been developed. The design and development of data acquisition system for two-frequency portable SODAR has been completed. ISRO Geosphere Biosphere Programme (ISRO-GBP) Under the ISRO Geosphere Biosphere Programme scientific projects related to climate change in three main streams are carried out. They are: 1) Climate Change, Modeling and Paleoclimate 2) Atmospheric Chemistry, Trace Gases and Aerosols and 3) Biogeocycles. Under ISRO-GBP, eighty eight scientific projects are in progress at present addressing: 1) palaeoclimate and climate change 2) climate observations and modeling 3) aerosols and radiative forcing 4) atmospheric and aerosol chemistry 5) land-use land cover and ecosystem dynamics and 6) carbon cycle and climate change. These activities are to understand the terms of parameterisation and development of basic data base. The simulation of regional climate model, using high-resolution land cover information has revealed significant forcing on the regional climate scenarios. Efforts are underway to implement with high-resolution model simulation. During February 2004, a month long mobile land aerosol campaign covering 15,000 km length across the southern Indian continent, was undertaken to study the physical, optical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases. The study involved the multi-platform observations from ground as well as aerial measurements over Hyderabad region. The initial results have brought out the significantly high aerosols loading in the interiors of continent compared to coastal regions. In addition, the atmospheric aerosols and their physical characteristics in urban areas are found to be significantly different from that of rural/remote areas. The Black Carbon (BC) vertical distribution as observed through aerial measurements has indicated the existence of 1000-5000 nano-grams of BC up to 500 metres and thereafter BC in the atmosphere is found to be consistent at around 1000 nano-grams up to boundary layer of 2 km. This study indicates that BC source is from the native region and hence the higher concentrations are observed in the lower boundary layer. This observation is first of its kind in the Indian region. The Land Aerosol Campaign in the North Indian corridor covering eight locations (Hissar, Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Allahabad, Jaduguda, Kharagpur and Nainital) has been undertaken during December 2004. The vertical observations using Mobile Pulse Lidar, Radiosonde from IMD and boundary layer observations from Kharagpur using tethered balloon and Ozonesonde from Kanpur are the specific observations in the winter months. The experiment is expected to provide specific insights on the development and composition of fog as a spin off observation. Realising the importance of multi-temporal, multi-resolution satellite data, a project has been undertaken in the Godavari, Pennar and Son River basins to understand the land cover dynamics over the past 15 to 20 years. This would provide considerable understanding on the land cover forcing to the climate through long-term meteorological data. As part of the satellite data application, the all India level land-use land- cover map has been prepared for use in the Regional Climate Models.
Carbon dynamics studies have been undertaken with specific emphasis on terrestrial vegetation to account the assimilation rates of atmospheric carbon dioxide as a function of primary productivity. The pilot projects in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have provided initial experimental procedures for evolving large scale projects. Space Science Promotion In addition to space science research carried out at PRL, SPL and NMRF, investigations in the areas of atmosphere/climate studies, solar-terrestrial interactive phenomena, lunar and planetary sciences, space astronomy, microgravity science, etc, are supported by DOS in the universities and other academic/research institutions primarily as part of national programmes/projects under the space science promotion activities. The Advisory Committee for Space Science reviews proposals from the scientific community/individual scientists and universities for DOS support. The ADCOS Research Fellowship (ADREF) scheme is used by scientists to carry out research in collaboration with national research laboratories. Space science popularisation programmes like Astronomy Olympiad for senior school children through Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, Honours Course in Space Sciences for undergraduate students in St. Joseph's College, Baaangalore, etc. are also being supported by DOS. The highlights of some of the important projects and programmes under space science promotion are as follows: • Study of air space pollutants at Sri Krishnadevaraya Kanara University, Anantpur: The specialised chemical analysis laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment is being used for observations on various atmospheric pollutants, aerosol, etc., along with measurement of meteorological parameters. • M N Saha Centre for Space Studies, Allahabad University: Four research projects under phase-II have been supported for carrying out research in space science and applications. Studies cover early detection of different kinds of stress in vegetation, use of MST radar observations for the estimation of momentum flux through the tropopause and identification of sources of climate variability and their related contribution. • S K Mitra Centre for Research in Space Environment: Four research projects have been funded related to: (a) measurement of methane flux from rice fields over Sunderban area (b) calculation of rain attenuation in Ku-band (c) atmospheric potential gradient (d) VLF emissions (950Hz3 9kHz) and Schumann resonance spectra affected by lightning over Tripura and Kolkata, magnetic storm that affects L-band scintillation over the low latitude region. • Planetary Science/Exploration Programme: This programme was initiated in 2001 to nucleate research groups in planetary sciences in universities and research institutions towards realisation of the scientific goals of Chandrayaan-1 and other future planetary explorations. Seven research projects related to analysis of meteoritic samples and planetary atmospheres measurement of spectral signatures relevant to lunar/planetary material are in progress at various universities. • Micro-gravity Science/Experiment: A national microgravity research programme office has been set up at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore to create awareness and conduct workshops, short-term schools, etc, at national level and brain storming sessions for generating ideas on specific micro-gravity science experiments. The development of two micro-gravity experiments for the first Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) mission is progressing at National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur and at IISc, Bangalore. TAUVEX: DOS is helping Indian scientific group at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, for developing data processing system and for generating high-level data products for the Tel Aviv University Ultrviolet Experiment (TAUVEX) payload developed by the Israel Space Agency that will be carried on board GSAT-4. In addition, IIA group is preparing astronomers in the country to utilise TAUVEX data for scientific research. Middle Atmospheric Dynamics (MIDAS): MIDAS campaign initiated in November 2002 to understand gravity wave climatology is proceeding well. The campaign involves launching of RH-200 rockets fortnightly from TERLS for a period of five years (2002-07) along with ground based observations using Lidar, MST radar and Partial Reflection Radar facilities. So far, 56 RH-200 rockets and high altitude balloons have been launched and ground based observations carried out. The seasonal variation of the propagation characteristics of long period gravity waves (6-8 hrs) has been brought out. Mesospheric Turbulence Campaign: A rocket campaign from SDSC SHAR, on mesospheric turbulence and stratification was carried out by launching an RH-300 MKII rocket carrying Langmuir Probe and Spherical Probe payloads and one RH-200 rocket with chaff payload for measuring wind parameters during last week of July, 2004. The rocket measurements were complemented with MST radar, Lidar, Ionosonde and other ground-based observations. Rocket experiment provided electron and ion densities and irregularities and zonal/meridional wind profiles. Climate and Weather of Sun-Earth System (Cawses): This is a new international scientific programme launched by Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics during 2004-2008 for cooperative effort to study the Sun-Earth system in totality. The aims are to mobilise the international solar-terrestrial science community to fully utilise the past, present Climate and Weather of Sun-Earth System (Cawses): This is a new international scientific programme launched by Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics during 2004-2008 for cooperative effort to study the Sun-Earth system in totality. The aims are to mobilise the international solar-terrestrial science community to fully utilise the past, present and future data to improve space weather forecasting to produce better design of space and earth-based technological systems and to improve the understanding of the effects of solar-terrestrial influences on global change. India has organised a workshop to formulate the scientific document to draw up the four themes similar to the international programme. ISRO has constituted a CAWSES National Steering Committee (CNSC) which is evaluating focused proposals from scientists. Atmospheric Modelling Programme: ISRO is developing space based observation techniques over the years to observe and model the earth-atmosphere system for its use in studies on climate and weather phenomena at various time and spatial scales. ISRO has now initiated a programme on atmospheric modelling for weather prediction studies to use available regional/global models and optimise the utilisation of satellite and associated surface-based data to improve short range weather prediction. Application of Satellite Data to Climate Research: ISRO has supported a pilot project on application of satellite data to climate research at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. The aim is to derive climatology of atmospheric and oceanic parameters over the Indian region using INSAT data. These climate parameters will be of use to study the monsoon variability on decadal, interannual time scales, global climate change and specific synoptic systems of interest.
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