Kochi: As part of the commemoration of World Meteorological Day on March 23, the School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) organized a METOC (Meteorological and Oceanographic) seminar titled ‘Meghayan-24’ at the Southern Naval Command on March 28, 2024. The seminar, based on the theme ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action’, as promulgated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the year 2024, aimed to highlight the critical role of meteorologists in addressing climate challenges.
The inaugural address was delivered by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, through virtual mode. Admiral Kumar emphasized the urgent need for accurate climate action and underscored the Indian Navy’s commitment to adopting sustainable policies to address environmental concerns. He praised the dedicated efforts of Naval meteorological specialists in providing crucial support across all domains, emphasizing the importance of reliable METOC support for safe and optimal Naval operations.
The seminar featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. TVS Uday Bhaskar, Scientist G, Indian Naval Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS), Hyderabad, and Dr. Ragavendra Ashit, Scientist ‘G’, National Centre for Medium Range Forecasting (NCMRWF), New Delhi. They discussed the latest techniques adopted by scientific agencies and climate data crunching to assist policymakers in decision-making at the national level. Panel discussions on various topics related to the effect of weather and climate change on Naval operations were also held, showcasing the Indian Navy’s and Indian scientific organizations’ latest techniques in providing METOC inputs and forecasts.
An indigenous mobile application, INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis), designed to disseminate weather-related information and forecasts for optimal decision-making, was launched during the event. Developed by BISAG (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) in coordination with the Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology, Indian Navy, the application aims to empower quick and informed decision-making.
The seminar was attended by Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Cmde Abhinav Barve, Commodore (NOM), Naval Headquarters, and Mr. Miren Karamta, Director, BISAG. It served as a platform for sharing knowledge and insights on weather and climate services, highlighting the way ahead to tackle the challenges of climate change.