The indigenously-developed stratosphere-troposphere (ST) radar at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), under the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, was officially handed over to the Advance Center for Atmospheric Radar Research, CUSAT for full fledged operations and research.
Dr. B M Reddy, Chairman PIC, was the Chief Guest. The event was graced by the presence of Hon. Vice Chancellor of CUSAT, Dr. J Latha, Dr. R K Mehajan, Scientist SERB, Dr. P. Sanjeeva Rao, SERB DST. The event was presided by eminent scientists and research scholars from all over the Indian atmospheric science fraternity.
Prof. K. Mohankumar, director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, said the design, development, fabrication and installation of the radar project were done indigenously. A team of scientists and engineers at the varsity had supervised the project, which was implemented by a Chennai-based firm Data Patterns Pvt Ltd.
The Radar is one of kind with a probing range of 20 kilometers and also is the first Wind Profiler Radar operating at 200 Mega Hertz.
The Centre has suggested that the wind data from the facility will be made available to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for assimilation into their weather prediction models. The Ministry of Earth Sciences will also extend financial support to maintain the radar. Efforts will be made to explore the demand for such a radar facility in various parts of the country. It was also recommended that the Indian Air Force could also utilise the facility for wind measurements, especially during take-off and landing operations of aircraft.