Bharat Forecast System (BFS)
( UPSC Prelims)
News Context
The Ministry of Earth Sciences introduced BFS, the world's first high-resolution weather forecast system developed indigenously.
About Bharat Forecast System
• Developed by: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Role: Improves India's weather prediction resolution from 12 km to 6 km, allowing every village in India to receive more accurate and location-specific forecasts.
• Data Sources: Combines real-time data from 40 Doppler Weather Radars.
o Doppler Radar is a specialized radar that utilizes the Doppler effect (a change in the frequency of a wave emitted by a source moving relative to the observer) to collect velocity data from the particles being measured.
Significance of BFS
○ Achieves 64% improved accuracy in high-risk areas and generates forecasts within 4–6 hours, whereas previous models took approximately 12-14 hours.
○ Places India ahead of nations such as the US, UK, and EU by reaching a 6 km resolution, in contrast to the 9–14 km resolution in global models.
○ Utilizes High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, specifically Arka at IITM Pune and Arunika at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Delhi.
● Definitive Model: Delivers a single-model based output that provides a definitive forecast.
Other Measures
Mission Mausam: Initiated in 2024 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to enhance weather and climate services, ensuring accurate and timely observations.
● Implemented by: India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).