Key Highlights
- SkyCast, a real‑time atmospheric intelligence platform, was commissioned at Delhi's IGI Airport.
- The system merges radar, SODAR, microwave radiometer, GFAS and LiDAR into a unified monitoring suite.
- By delivering forecasts of fog, visibility, wind, turbulence and aerosol loads up to 3 km high, it aims to curb winter‑time flight delays and safety incidents.
- Developed under the Government's Mission Mausam, SkyCast also leverages AI‑enhanced modelling for short‑range alerts.
Detailed Insights
SkyCast represents a paradigm shift in Indian aviation meteorology. Installed under the auspices of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the platform continuously ingests data from a Radar Wind Profiler, SODAR, microwave radiometer, ground‑based fog aerosol spectrometer (GFAS) and a CL61 LiDAR‑based ceilometer. These instruments collectively render a three‑dimensional picture of the lower‑tropospheric column surrounding the airport, extending to nearly three kilometres in altitude.
The incoming streams of information are processed in near real time and disseminated to pilots, air‑traffic controllers and airport operators, enabling them to adjust take‑off and landing strategies well before hazardous conditions manifest. In winter, when Delhi experiences dense, pollution‑laden fog, SkyCast can issue alerts several hours ahead, reducing the likelihood of flight cancellations, diversions and runway excursions.
Beyond operational safety, the system is a flagship component of Mission Mausam, which seeks to modernise the nation’s weather‑prediction infrastructure through high‑resolution observation networks and artificial‑intelligence‑driven forecasting models.
Key Concepts
- Radar Wind Profiler: A doppler‑radar device that continuously measures wind speed, direction, turbulence, vertical air motion and boundary‑layer dynamics.
- Ground‑Based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer (GFAS): An optical sensor that characterises fog droplet size distribution, aerosol concentration and their combined impact on visibility.
- LiDAR‑Based Ceilometer: A laser‑based ranging instrument that profiles cloud base heights, fog depth and vertical visibility.
- Mission Mausam: A Government‑led initiative aimed at upgrading India’s weather‑monitoring capabilities via advanced sensors and AI‑enhanced forecasting.