IITM Sets Up Coastal Research Testbed in Visakhapatnam to Boost Weather Forecasting

Visakhapatnam: In a major step towards strengthening India’s weather monitoring and prediction capabilities, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has established a Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART) at Andhra University, creating a dedicated facility for advanced atmospheric research along the east coast.

The open-field observatory under C-ART was inaugurated on May 1 by M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor G P Raja Sekhar and IITM Director A Suryachandra Rao. The initiative forms part of the Centre’s Mission Mausam aimed at enhancing observational networks and improving forecasting models.

Developed on land provided by Andhra University, the facility will enable continuous atmospheric observations and foster collaborative research. Officials said the testbed is strategically located on the eastern coastline to better understand coastal weather systems, including monsoon dynamics and extreme events.

During the inauguration, a brochure and short film on the C-ART initiative were released, outlining its research goals, advanced instrumentation and expected regional impact. Addressing the gathering, Ravichandran emphasised the need to strengthen observational capabilities across spatial and temporal scales to improve predictions, particularly for severe weather.

The facility is equipped with advanced instruments such as disdrometers, automatic weather stations and an eddy covariance tower, which will help capture high-resolution data on rainfall patterns, wind behaviour and atmospheric turbulence. A meteorological balloon launch marked the commencement of observations, coinciding with a thundershower recorded in the city.

Future upgrades will include cutting-edge technologies like wind lidar systems, Doppler radars and advanced spectrometers, expected to significantly enhance the understanding of atmospheric processes and improve prediction of extreme weather events.

Officials said the C-ART facility will function as a national research platform, supporting studies on monsoon convection, improving numerical weather prediction models and strengthening early warning systems for cyclones and other extreme events.