| Radar Principle Radars use radio waves to detect and measure the distance, velocity, and physical characteristics of objects, such as clouds in meteorology. Doppler radar, a common type used in weather forecasting, can measure rainfall intensity and wind patterns using the Doppler effect. |
- After devastating floods and landslides claimed over 200 lives in Kerala’s Wayanad, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences approved the installation of an X-band radar to monitor and provide early warnings for future landslides.
- X-band Radar: X-band radar emits radio waves in the 8-12 GHz range (2-4 cm wavelength) and is effective for detecting smaller particles like rain droplets.
- In Wayanad, it will monitor particle movements, such as soil, to issue landslide warnings.
- India has been using radars for weather forecasting, with both X-band and S-band radars deployed.
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences plans to install 56 more Doppler radars under the ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ by 2026 to improve meteorological infrastructure.
- The government is procuring 10 more X-band Doppler radars for the northeast and Himachal Pradesh.
- Alongside the Wayanad radar, a C-band radar with a 250 km range will be installed in Mangaluru.
| NISAR Project: NASA and ISRO are developing the NISAR satellite, equipped with L-band and S-band radars, to map Earth’s landmasses. NISAR is expected to launch in 2025 onboard ISRO’s GSLV Mk II rocket, with a project cost of $1.5 billion. |
Dig Deeper: Read about the basics of various band Radars.
