India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar
Why in News?
India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) was virtually inaugurated on 16 September 2026 at Jamadarpali, Sambalpur (Odisha) by Union MoS (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, in the presence of Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi.
Technical Specifications of Sambalpur Radar
- Coverage Radius: It provides detailed meteorological data within a 250 km radius.
- Resolution & Update Speed: Operates at a high 150-metre resolution and generates fresh data updates every 10 minutes.
- Target Forecasts: Explicitly designed to give advanced warnings for localized severe events such as thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall.
Regional Coverage & Impact
- Three-State Benefit: The radar covers 13 districts in western Odisha and extends its tracking reach to adjacent areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
- Agriculture & Crop Protection: It will issue precise warnings to safeguard farming assets and crops, particularly across the volatile Mahanadi basin.
- Water Management: Data from this unit will help administrative bodies precisely manage water inflows and flood parameters at the critical Hirakud Reservoir.
Broad National Context & Goals
- Exponential Network Growth: India's radar footprint has grown by over 250% over the last 12 years.
- Future Targets: Under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the government plans to add 40 more radars in the next phase, aggressively moving toward a target of approximately 100 radars nationwide to achieve highly localized "nowcasting".
- State-Level Growth: Additional future radars in Odisha are slated for installation at Balasore, Puri, and Bhubaneswar.
What is a Doppler Weather Radar (DWR)?
- The Mechanism: DWR utilizes the Doppler Effect—calculating shifts in the frequency of reflected microwave signals to measure the exact velocity and direction of wind and rain droplets inside clouds.
- Superiority over Conventional Radars: While older radars could only detect the intensity and location of rain, a Doppler radar computes real-time wind speed and atmospheric motion, which is vital for tracking moving cyclonic paths and sudden storm fronts.
