Isro weather station will study Tumkur climate

TUMKUR: Tumkur University will soon have a weather station on its campus, which will be the first in the district too. One month hence, Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) will set up an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) on Tumkur University campus to take up atmospheric research activities. The AWS will also help in the scientific assessment of fluctuating weather patterns in Tumkur and provide rainfall figures in different parts of the district.
Tumkur University vice-chancellor had sent a proposal to ISRO to set up the station on campus, to which Isro gave the green signal.
Deputy director of atmospheric science programme, Isro, B Manikiam told The Times of India that Isro is setting up the station as part of a special drive, undertaken for the first time, to study urban climatology.
The drive includes the setting up of 117 such automatic weather stations all over Karnataka. We have already installed 85 stations, and the rest will be installed within the month, he added.
Isro has designed the station at a cost of Rs 2 lakh. Hyderabad-based Astra Microwave Limited will supply the parts and install them, he added.
The station will record readings pertaining to pressure, temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed, and sunlight. The data will be transmitted to Isro through Insat, and updated every hour. We will share this information with the meteorological department, Manikiam said.
Tumkur University vice-chancellor Dr S C Sharma said the university offers MSc in Physics and Chemistry and proposed MSc in Electronic and Computer Science. The AWS can be a practical source of information for weather data and be used for development of sensors, improved technology of weather monitoring and accurate forecasting by students.
AWS will help in research programmes of the university and also alert the public to pollution levels through weather forecasts.