15. MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

• 15.1. NATIONAL MONSOON MISSION (PHASE II 2017-2020)
• • To improve Seasonal and Intra-seasonal Monsoon Forecast
• • To improve Medium Range Forecast.
• • To develop a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system for monsoon rainfall on all different time scales i.e. from short-range to seasonal.
• • The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune will coordinate and lead the effort for improving the forecasts on seasonal and intra seasonal scale.
• • National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida will lead and coordinate the efforts for improving the forecasts in the medium range scale up to week two forecasts.
• • These will be made operational by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi
• • For Long range forecasting (upto a season), American model called Climate Forecast System (CFS) is used, which is a coupled-Ocean atmosphere modelling system i.e. it combines data from ocean, atmosphere and land.
• • For short to medium range Unified Model (UM) developed by UK is used.
• • In its phase I, IMD was to develop high resolution-coupled dynamical prediction system (seasonal and extended time scale). For the first time, IMD used the Monsoon Mission dynamical model to prepare operational seasonal forecast of 2017 monsoon rainfall over India.
• • The Ministry has launched the Monsoon Mission Phase II program, for next 3 years (2017-2020) with emphasis on predicting extremes and development of applications based on monsoon forecasts. 
• 15.2 OTHER SCHEMES
• SAFAR
• • An integrated early warning System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) was launched by Minister for Science& Technology and Earth Sciences.
• “Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART)”
• • The scheme encompasses a total of 16 sub-projects addressing ocean development activities such as Services, Technology, Resources, Observations and Science.
• • Implementation of O-SMART will help in addressing issues relating to Sustainable Development Goal-14, which aims to conserve use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.
• • This scheme also provides necessary scientific and technological background required for implementation of various aspects of Blue Economy.
• Red Atlas Action Plan Map (for Chennai)
• • The atlas is aimed at flood mitigation, preparedness, operations and management aspects in Chennai.
• • It is prepared by India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in association with TN State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and Greater Chennai Corporation.
• Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation and Information (GEMINI) device
• • It is a low-cost device designed to use the GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) satellite system to transmit the Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts (OSF) and disaster warnings or forecasts to fishermen.
• • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), joined hands with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to present this device.