Devastating landslides and floods struck Kerala's Wayanad district in July 2024, killing over 200 people. The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences authorized the construction of an X-band radar in the area in order to avert future catastrophes. This radar will aid enhance weather monitoring and provide landslide early warnings.
What is Radar and How Does it Work
- Radar, the acronym for "radio detection and ranging," measures objects with radio waves.
- A transmitter and receiver; uses returned signals to calculate how far an object is and how quickly it is moving.
Doppler Radar
- Doppler for cloud moves & rainfall tracing.
- Indicates variations in signals as they reflect off of moving clouds.
X-Band Radar
- Utilizes 8-12 GHz radio waves for sharp, high resolution imaging
- Aims to track soil motion for the prediction of landslides and provide rapid, precise environmental data.
India's Radar Network
- Meteorological radars are operational in India since 1950s.
- Under "Mission Mausam" plans to set up 60 new weather radars till 2026
NISAR Project
- NASA-ISRO's satellite joint mission
- Synthetic Aperture Radar — Maps detailed images of the Earth's surface.
- Expected to launch in 2025.
Month: Current Affairs - November 12, 2024
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