Decision taken by scientists to release underwater robots in the Bay of Bengal to study Indian monsoon
Science and Technology
India
To predict the Indian monsoon, scientists have decided to release underwater robots into the Bay of Bengal who will help them in providing more accurate data on Indian monsoon. It is estimated to cost eight million pounds.
The decision was announced on 14 June 2016 by a team of scientists from Britain and India. The initiative will be undertaken as Indian monsoon is critical to millions of farmers.
As part of the initiative
• Seven underwater robots will be released from an Indian ship in the third week of June 2016 by Scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
• These Robots that have computers onboard and look like miniature yellow submarines will be released to study how ocean processes influence monsoon rainfall.
• Robots will spend a month moving through a southern section of the bay, to measure temperature, salinity and currents.
• Scientists from the University of Reading and climate experts in India will fly plane carrying scientific equipment over the Bay of Bengal to measure heat and moisture in the air.
Impact of the Study
Better forecast on monsoon will help in improving the livelihoods of more than 200 million farmers and agricultural labourers who have suffered huge losses financially as well as live wise due to the continuous droughts.
The precise predictions will also help hundreds of millions to prepare better for situations like droughts and floods.
