Year End Review-2017 Ministry of Earth Science

Year End Review-2017 Ministry of Earth Science

Question: Indigenous Doppler weather radar was inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan on 12th July 2017. From which of the following places this launching was done?
(a) Ahmedabad
(b) Nellore
(c) Kochi
(d) Odessa
Answer: (c)
Related Facts:

  • On December 28th, 2017, Year End Review-2017 Ministry of Earth Sciencewas released.
  • Some Major achievements of the ministry are as follows:
  • On May 12th, 2017, an integrated early warning System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) was dedicated to the nation by Dr. HarshVardhan, Union Minister for Science& Technology and Earth Sciences in Ahmedabad.
  • A Foundation Stone for the Marine Finfish Hatchery and Test Facility for Ballast Water Treatment Technologies was laid on April 8th, 2017 by Shri Y.S. Chowdary, Minister for State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, at Nellore sea front facility.
  • For the first time, India Meteorological Department used the Monsoon Mission dynamical model to prepare operational seasonal forecast of 2017 monsoon rainfall over India.
  • The Ministry has now launched the Monsoon Mission Phase II program, for next 3 years (2017-2020) with emphasis on predicting extremes and development of applications based on monsoon forecasts.
  • On 11thJuly 2017 Stratosphere-Troposphere (ST) Radar Facility at the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) was dedicated to nation.
  • On 12thJuly 2017, a state-of-the-art, indigenous Doppler weather radar was inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in Kochi.
  • This Radar is capable of predicting with increased accuracy weather events such as cyclone occurring in 500-km radius from Kochi.
  • The Ministry through its constituent unit, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed indigenized technologies for producing clean drinking water from the ocean.
  • Currently there are three desalination plants operational at Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy islands, which are individually producing 1 lakh liters of drinking water per day.
  • The plants are operated by the local islanders.
  • NIOT is now installing another six more plants in Lakshadweep islands, each with a capacity to produce 1.5 lakh liters of water every day, with the help of Lakshadweep administration.
  • Two plants will be commissioned by December 2018.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=174928