Evolution of Rainfall Monitoring and Meteorological Services in India
The history of rainfall and weather services in India dates back to the early 19th century when the observatory in Madras began recording rainfall in 1793. The India Meteorological Department played a vital role in standardizing rainfall measurements and providing technical guidance to state governments. Today, there are over 5000 recording rain gauge stations across the country, ensuring regular publication of rainfall data for various applications such as flood control, irrigation, and hydro-electric power generation.
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HISTORY OF RAINFALL AND WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIA VANSHIKA KIRAR & SANDEEP KUMAR DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & RAJ RISHI BHARTHRI MATSYA UNIVERSITY INDIA
EARLY HISTORY HYDROMETEOROLOGY IS A MAJOR BRANCH OF METEOROLOGY, WHICH DEALS WITH ALL ASPECTS OF WATER THAT REACHES THE EARTH S SURFACE IN THE FORM OF RAIN OR SNOW. HYDROMETEOROLOGY IS IMPORTANT FOR FLOOD CONTROL, IRRIGATION, RIVER NAVIGATION, HYDRO- ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION. DRAINAGE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
THE OBSERVATORY IN MADRAS, INDIA STARTED RECORDING RAINFALL FROM 1793. TOWARDS THE 19THCENTURY, MANY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN INDIA BEGAN RECORDING RAINFALL AT A NUMBER OF STATIONS SUPERVISED BY THEIR REVENUE OFFICIALS. IN THOSE EARLY YEARS, THERE WAS NO OBSERVATION. EACH PROVINCE MADE ITS OWN SEPARATE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE COLLECTION OF RAINFALL DATA, WHICH WERE USUALLY PUBLISHED IN THE PROVINCIAL GAZETTE. UNTIL 1889 ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF RAINFALL STATIONS SENT THEIR DATA TO THE INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.
RAINFALL RESOLUTION OF 1890 1: THE ADOPTION OF A COMMON TYPE OF RAINGAUGE (SYMON S) FOR RAINFALL REGISTRATION THROUGHOUT INDIA. 2: THE SUPPLY OF INSTRUMENTS THROUGH THE CENTRAL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE, WHICH WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CALIBRATION AND ACCURACY OF RAINGAUGES. 3: FREQUENT INSPECTION OF RAINGAUGE STATIONS AND THE SUBMISSIONS OF INSPECTION REPORTS TO THE CONTROLLING OFFICES. 4: SCRUTINY AND EXAMINATION OF RAINFALL DATA BY QUALIFIED OFFICERS AND PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL DATA FOR THE WHOLE OF INDIA.
THE INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT WAS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR (I)TECHNICAL ADVICE TO STATE GOVERNMENTS ON ALL MATTERS CONNECTED WITH RAINFALL REGISTRATIONS, SUCH AS SELECTION OF SITES AND INSTALLATION OF RAINGAUGES, METHODS OF RAINFALL OBSERVATION, INSPECTION OF RAINGAUGE STATIONS (II) COMPILATION AND ISSUE OF CONSOLIDATED RAINFALL DATA FOR THE WHOLE OF INDIA IN THE PUBLICATION ENTITLED THE DAILY RAINFALL OF INDIA AND THE MONTHLY RAINFALL OF INDIA FOR EACH CALENDAR YEAR AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION AMONG QUALIFIED RECIPIENTS. THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL STUDIES PERTAINING TO RAINFALL.
RAINFALL ORGANIZATION AT PRESENT THERE ARE 5012 RECORDING RAINGAUGE STATIONS IN THE CENTURY WHOSE DATA ARE REGULARLY PUBLISHED. THIS INCLUDES 644 STATIONS RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT WHERE RAINFALL IS MEASURED UP TO 8 TIMES A DAY. APART FOR DAILY RAINFALL, INFORMATION ON THE INTENSITY OF RAINFALL FOR DIFFERENT DURATIONS IS REQUIRED FOR MOST HYDROLOGICAL PURPOSES. WITH THIS OBJECTIVE IN VIEW, A NETWORK OF 380 SELF RECORDING RAINGAUGES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTRY.
THE FLOOD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION OFFICES MAINTAIN A CONTINUOUS WATCH ON THE WEATHER SYSTEMS AFFECTING THE RIVER CATCHMENTS, REPORT THE ACTUAL RAINFALL AND PROVIDE SEMIQUANTITATIVE FORECAST OF RAINFALL FOR A PERIOD OF ONE TO TWO DAYS. THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE METEOROLOGIST AND THE ENGINEERS ENABLES THE DIFFERENT PROBABILITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEATHER SYSTEMS TO BE TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION IN ISSUING FLOOD WARNINGS.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BAY STORM SERVICE THE STORM WARNING SERVICE FOR THE BAY OF BENGAL WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 1865 WAS IMPROVED BY SIR JOHN ELIOT. IN 1881, HE PROPOSED A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS WITH A SPECIAL PROVISION FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN LARGE AND SMALL STORMS AND FOR INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF A FULL-FLEDGED CYCLONE WAS IN DOUBT. UNDER THIS SYSTEMS, SIGNALS GIVING WARNING OF ANY DANGEROUS STORM NEAR THE HEAD OF THE BAY, WERE HOISTED AT SAGAR ISLAND, MUD POINT AND DIAMOND HARBOUR. HOWEVER THE STORM SIGNALS WERE HOISTED IN CALCUTTA ONLY BEFORE THE APPROACH OF A SERVER CYCLONE. THE SYSTEM WAS SANCTIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL AND BROUGHT INTO OPERATION IN 1882.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE BOMBAY STORM SIGNALS IT WAS FOUND IN 1887 THAT SYSTEM OF STORM SIGNALS IN FORCE FOR THE WEST COAST PORTS WAS NOT VERY SATISFACTORY. PROPOSALS WERE SUBMITTED BY ELIOT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN 1888 FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT BY THE ADOPTION OF A SYSTEM OF SIGNALS SUGGESTED BY SIR HENRY MORLAND, PORT OFFICER OF BOMBAY, AS MOST SUITABLE FOR THE CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE WEST COAST. THE PROPOSALS WERE FULLY CONSIDERED BY THE PORT AND COMMERCIAL AUTHORITIES IN BOMBAY AND WERE FINALLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY AND WERE INTRODUCED FROM THE 15THSEPTEMBER, 1889.
EVOLUTION OF STORM WARNING CENTERS THE STORMS WARNING WORK FOR THE BAY INSTITUTED AT CALCUTTA WAS TRANSFERRED TO SIMLA FOR A BRIEF PERIOD FROM 1922 TO 1927 TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STRENGTH OF FULL TIME GAZETTE OFFICERS THERE. THIS DID NOT PROVE BENEFICIAL ON ACCOUNT OF THE DELAYS IN RECEIPT OF WARNING TELEGRAMS FROM SIMLA TO CALCUTTA. THE COMMISSION ENQUIRING INTO THE LOSS OF S.S. OKHARA IN 1923 COMMENTED THAT THE STORM WARNING RECEIVED AT CALCUTTA WAS NOT TIMELY. WHEN THE STORM WARNING WORK WAS TRANSFERRED AGAIN TO CALCUTTA IN 1927 A FULL-TIME METEOROLOGIST WAS PUT IN CHARGE.
