The World Meteorological Day, annually observed on March 23rd, commemorates the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on March 23, 1950, highlighting the pivotal role of meteorologists in the field. As part of the World Meteorological Day celebrations, 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 focused on the theme ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action,’ designated by the WMO for the year 2024.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, delivered the inaugural address virtually, emphasizing the urgent need to tackle the challenges of climate change and stressing the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving a climate-smart society under the global framework for climate services of WMO. He reiterated the Indian Navy’s commitment to adopting sustainable policies to address environmental concerns and integrating climate change considerations into security strategies. Admiral Kumar underscored the significance of reliable METOC support for safe and efficient naval operations, acknowledging the dedicated efforts of naval meteorological specialists across all domains.
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 scientific techniques and climate data analysis undertaken to assist policymakers in national decision-making processes. Additionally, panel discussions were held on various topics, including the effect of weather and climate change on naval operations, highlighting the latest techniques adopted by the Indian Navy and Indian scientific organizations in providing METOC inputs and forecasts for operational activities.
During the event, an indigenous mobile application called INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) was launched to disseminate weather-related information and forecasts, facilitating optimal and prompt decision-making. The application, developed by BISAG (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) in coordination with the Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology, Indian Navy, aims to empower users with timely weather updates. Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Commodore Abhinav Barve, Commodore (NOM), Naval Headquarters, and Mr. Miren Karamta, Director, BISAG, attended the event.
The seminar provided a platform for sharing knowledge and insights on weather and climate services and discussed strategies to address the challenges posed by climate change.
