The system will allow member countries to issue flood forecasts based on impact (representation)
New Delhi:
The first of its kind for South Asian countries that will provide flash flood warnings 6 to 24 hours in advance was launched on Friday at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The World Meteorological Department (WMO) has entrusted India with responsibility for the Regional Center South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System for coordination, development and implementation.
India also shares cyclone warning alerts with neighboring countries.
The system will allow member countries – India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan – to issue forecasts based on the impact of floods that are very sudden and short-lived at the watershed level as well as at the river basin level. city, IMD chief executive Mrutunjay Mohapatra said at the online launch.
Representatives of member countries attended the event.
Flash floods are very localized, short-lived events with a very high peak and typically take less than six hours between the onset of precipitation and the peak flood. There is a general lack of flash flood warning capacities and capabilities in countries around the world.
Recognizing that flash floods have a particularly disastrous impact on the lives and property of affected populations, the 15th WMO Congress approved the implementation of a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) project with cover global.
The system was developed by the WMO Commission for Hydrology, jointly with the WMO Commission for Basic Systems and in collaboration with the US National Weather Service, the US Hydrologic Research Center (HRC).
IMD has very advanced capabilities in terms of computing power, numerical weather prediction, an extensive observation network (land, air and space) and an internationally renowned weather forecasting system.
It has tested the performance of the system during recent monsoon seasons in pre-operational mode and the flash flood reports have been sent to the region’s national hydrological and meteorological services for validation, said BP Yadav, senior researcher at the ‘IMD.
The system has in-depth science, dynamics and diagnostics to provide advice on possible occurrences of flash floods at the local level, Yadav added.
“Flash flood advice in the form of threats (6 hours in advance) and risks (24 hours in advance) will be provided by the Regional Center to national meteorological and hydrological services, national and national authorities in disaster management and all other mitigation measures necessary to reduce the loss of life and property in the countries of the South Asian region of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, ”Mr. Mohapatra said.
Mr. Rajeevan, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, stressed the need to strengthen the rainfall and soil moisture observation network in order to improvise the performance of the system.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
