History of Metrological Services in India

History of Metrological Services in India

Subject: Geography

Section: Climatology

Historical perspective:

• Meteorology in India dates back to ancient times with discussions on cloud formation, rain processes, and seasonal cycles found in philosophical writings like the Upanishadas. Varahamihira’s Brihatsamhita and Kautilya’s Arthashastra show early scientific knowledge about atmospheric processes and rainfall measurement’s relevance to agriculture.
• Kalidasa in his epic, ‘Meghdoot’, written around the seventh century, even mentions the date of onset of the monsoon over central India and traces the path of the monsoon clouds.
• The 17th century marked meteorology’s scientific foundation with inventions like the thermometer and barometer. Halley’s treatise (a British scientist) in 1636 attributed the Indian summer monsoon to seasonal wind reversals.

Modern meteorology in India:

• India boasts some of the world’s oldest meteorological observatories, established by the British East India Company in Calcutta and Madras in the late 18th century.
• The Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) and Bombay (1804) encouraged meteorological studies.
• Captain Harry Piddington‘s work introduced the term “cyclone” and detailed tropical storms in the 19th century. In 1842 he published his monumental work on the “Laws of the Storms”.

Indian Meterological Department (IMD):

• The IMD was established in 1875 after calamitous events like cyclones and monsoon failures, appointing H. F. Blanford as the first Meteorological Reporter.
• The first Director General of Observatories was Sir John Eliot who was appointed in May 1889 at Calcutta headquarters.
• The headquarters of IMD were later shifted to Shimla, then to Poona (now Pune) and finally to New Delhi.
• The IMD has expanded its infrastructure and scientific growth since its modest beginnings, embracing contemporary technology like telegraphs, computers, and geostationary satellites (INSAT). It’s been a pioneer in meteorology and atmospheric science, fostering growth for 140 years, and stands at the cusp of an exciting future.

IMD is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. Its mandate:

• To take meteorological observations and to provide current and forecast meteorological information for optimum operation of weather-sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, offshore oil explorations, etc.
• To warn against severe weather phenomena like tropical cyclones, norwesters, dust storms, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc., which cause destruction of life and property.
• To provide meteorological statistics required for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration and other nation-building activities.
• To conduct and promote research in meteorology and allied disciplines.