Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said satellite-based weather forecasting has helped reduce the deaths occurring every year due to cyclones from a few thousands to single-digit figures.
He was delivering the golden jubilee endowment lecture on ‘Space Technology and Societal Applications’ organised by the JSS Mahavidyapeetha here on Monday.
He said satellite-based weather forecasting has helped mitigate the impact of natural disasters. Using the wind pattern generated by Oceansat-2 scatterometer, data models have been developed for predicting the formation of a cyclone even before the depression turns into a cyclone. The meteorological satellites which measure weather parameters and provide images on cloud cover have become an integral part of weather forecasting, said Mr. Kumar. The development of flood early warning system has ensured a high degree of accuracy in flood forecasting as well, he added.
Satellite imageries and high spatial resolution data from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellites have found applications in areas including urban sprawl mapping and infrastructure planning and is a key ingredient in government programmes to ensure food and water security.
The remote sensing satellite data has found application in agricultural crop acreage and yield estimation, ground water targeting, forest survey, etc. The ISRO Chairman said space technology in agriculture over the years has led to pre-harvest production forecast for many crops .
Horticulture
Dwelling on the use of space technology for horticulture, Mr. Kumar said a site suitability analysis for horticulture was conducted across 180 districts in 11 States for seven crops: banana, mango, citrus fruits, potato, onion, tomato and chilli. S.K. Shivakumar, Prof. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor, spoke on the book Daanasheelathe Agathyave authored by Sudha Murthy. Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt, students, and staff of various institutions were present.
