Climate Services of the India Meteorological Department: Current Activities and Future Directions

Introductory Note

Climate services have become an essential component of climate risk management and sustainable development in an era of increasing climate variability and change. As India's National Meteorological Service, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has continuously expanded its climate monitoring, forecasting, advisory, and early warning capabilities to support diverse sectors of society. This article highlights the current achievements of IMD's climate services, discusses the proposed National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS), and outlines future directions aimed at enhancing climate resilience and informed decision-making across the country.

1. INTRODUCTION

India Meteorological Department (IMD), established in 1875, is the national agency for meteorological observations, weather and climate forecasting in India. It has a legacy of providing critical meteorological services for diverse sectors of Indian society. Its climate services have evolved over decades, leveraging technological advancements, observational networks, and computational capabilities. Climate services provided by IMD aim to deliver tailored information and solutions to mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience in sectors such as agriculture, water resources, health, energy, disaster management, and many other industries. With the increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes due to global warming, robust and reliable climate services have become paramount. Recognizing the need for a structured approach to climate service delivery, India plans to implement the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) in consultation with various stakeholders.

2. CURRENT CLIMATE SERVICES OF IMD

IMD’s climate services encompass a wide array of products and solutions, including:

(i)   (i) Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics: IMD operates an extensive observational network of weather stations, automatic weather stations, and satellite systems. The department issues regular climate bulletins, monitors climate anomalies at different scales (monthly, seasonal and annual), and analyzes long-term climate observed trends (Figure 1). The State of the Climate reports provide crucial insights into climate variability and change at national and state levels.

 


Figure 1: Monitoring of annual mean surface air temperature anomalies averaged over India for the period 1901-2023 (base period of 1981-2010) [Source: IMD]

 

(ii)    Climate Forecasts: IMD regularly provides extended range and monthly and seasonal forecasts, aiding in mid-term planning for sectors like agriculture, water resources, and disaster management. These forecasts, generated using climate models, offer critical insights into weather trends for the upcoming weeks to months to seasons (Figure 2). Skilful forecasts have significantly contributed to shaping India’s strategies in these sectors by addressing variability in monsoon rainfall, extreme weathers such as heatwaves, and other climatic parameters.

 


Figure 2: Rainfall forecast for June 2024 and its comparison with observations. [Source: IMD]

 

(iii)  Extreme Weather Alerts and Disaster Management: IMD plays a pivotal role in issuing early warnings for extreme events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and floods, contributing significantly to disaster risk reduction. Improved cyclone tracking and forecast accuracy have substantially reduced loss of life during extreme events.

 

(iv)   Hydrological Services: IMD plays a significant role in water resource management through its hydrological services. These include providing rainfall monitoring and prediction, flood forecasting, and drought assessment. IMD collaborates with the Central Water Commission (CWC) to issue real-time flood forecasts, which are vital for disaster management and planning. Seasonal and extended range rainfall forecasts are used by various agencies to manage reservoirs, optimize irrigation schedules, and plan water conservation strategies.

 

(v)    Agro-Meteorological Services: IMD’s Agromet Advisory Services (AAS) provide localized weather-based advisories to farmers, supporting crop planning and reducing risks of climate variability. These advisories reach millions of farmers and play a critical role in climate-resilient agriculture.

 

(vi)   Climate Data Services: IMD maintains extensive climate data archives accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public. The National Data Centre serves as a repository for historical climate data, which is critical for climate research and decision-making.

 

(vii) Climate Applications and User Interface: IMD has developed user-friendly platforms and applications to enhance accessibility to climate information (Figure 3). The integration of GIS-based tools and interactive dashboards allows stakeholders to visualize and interpret data effectively. Tailored products, such as climate risk maps and sector-specific advisories, address the needs of diverse user groups, including farmers, disaster managers, and urban planners.

 


Figure 3: Examples of Climate Application and User Interface in IMD for various sectors [Source: IMD]


3. NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE SERVICES (NFCS)

To address emerging challenges and align with international initiatives such as the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), India is developing the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS). The NFCS will serve as a coordinated platform to enhance the delivery and accessibility of climate services across sectors (Figure 4). Key objectives of the NFCS include:

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with government agencies, academic institutions, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations to co-develop tailored climate services. It ensures that climate services are user-driven, addressing specific needs through co-designed solutions and active feedback mechanisms.
  • Sectoral Focus: Developing sector-specific climate services for agriculture, water resources, health, energy, disaster risk reduction, and many other sectors.
  • Integration with Policy: Integrating climate information into national and regional planning processes to enhance climate resilience.
  • Capacity Building: Strengthening technical expertise and infrastructure for climate observations, modeling, and forecasting.


Figure 4: Development of NFCS in India to enhance the delivery and accessibility of climate services across sectors. [Source: IMD]


4.      FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The future of IMD’s climate services is envisioned to build on the strengths of existing systems while embracing innovations and global best practices. Key focus areas include:

  • IMD collaborates with premier research institutions such as the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) to enhance seasonal and sub-seasonal forecasting capabilities. Through such partnerships, IMD ensures the availability of reliable and actionable forecasts to address climate variability and extreme events effectively.
  • Shifting from traditional deterministic forecasts to impact-based services will allow IMD to provide more relevant and actionable insights. This shift can help sectors like agriculture, water resources, and disaster management in making better-informed decisions, ultimately improving resilience to extreme climate events.
  • The adoption of digital tools like mobile apps and web portals ensures that real-time climate data reaches stakeholders in an efficient and accessible manner. This can play a pivotal role in empowering citizens, businesses, and policymakers with the information they need to take timely action against climate challenges.
  • A strong emphasis on collaborative research will enable IMD to deepen its understanding of regional climate projections, identify climate extremes, and assess the potential impacts of climate change on key sectors. Such research is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability.
  • By engaging with global partners and adopting best practices, IMD can stay at the forefront of climate science and services. This collaboration will help access advanced tools and methodologies, ensuring that IMD’s services are in line with international standards and are responsive to global climate trends.

 

5.      CONCLUSION

IMD has established itself as a key provider of climate services, playing a vital role in supporting climate resilience across multiple sectors. Through its comprehensive climate monitoring, forecasting, and advisory services, IMD has contributed significantly to disaster risk reduction, agricultural productivity, water resource management, and the overall climate adaptation strategies of the country. Over the years, it has been at the forefront of delivering climate services that underpin India’s socio-economic resilience. As climate extremes intensify, IMD continues to evolve its services, integrating advanced technologies, fostering research collaborations, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure that its climate services meet the growing needs of society. The ongoing development of the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) is poised to enhance the coordination, accessibility, and impact of these services, ensuring that India remains resilient in the face of climate challenges. Looking ahead, IMD’s commitment to embracing innovations and international best practices will further strengthen its role as a leading climate service provider, supporting informed decision-making and sustainable development in the years to come.


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