New Delhi, March 23: The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an advanced airborne device that accurately measures the immediate atmospheric conditions or weather with high resolution. Primarily installed on aircraft, it collects crucial information about the environment surrounding the aircraft.
MMS is extremely beneficial for meteorologists, researchers, and Weather Forecasting models. The American space agency NASA provides detailed information about this system. MMS is an in-situ airborne instrument primarily used for scientific research and weather studies. It measures various atmospheric parameters such as atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind direction and speed, true airspeed, turbulence, potential temperature, Reynolds number, and turbulence dissipation rate, all typically recorded at a rate of 20 Hertz (20 times per second), yielding highly precise and high-resolution data.
The system is specially calibrated to obtain data on weather effects. So, how does it work? MMS operates through sensors installed on different parts of the aircraft. Key sensors include the nose boom or pitot-static probe for measuring airspeed and pressure, temperature probes for measuring temperature, and inertial navigation systems and GPS for determining the aircraft’s speed, position, and direction.
Additionally, it includes sensors that measure three-dimensional air vectors. These sensors continuously collect data while the aircraft is in flight. The computer systems onboard process this data and make adjustments, such as accounting for temperature effects due to the aircraft’s speed or changes in pressure. The resulting data aids in understanding subtle weather changes such as turbulence and air currents. This information is also useful for improving weather forecasting models, conducting climate studies, and ensuring aircraft safety.
In India, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other scientific institutions utilize such systems to gather in-depth atmospheric information. This not only aids in understanding the weather but also enhances the accuracy of future forecasts.
ISRO has established a network of 1,158 automatic weather stations across India. These stations autonomously record weather information such as temperature, wind speed, pressure, and rainfall. Many of these instruments have been developed in-house by ISRO.
The data collected is used to prepare accurate weather forecasts and verify existing predictions. Furthermore, ISRO’s National Atmospheric Research Laboratory employs MST radar to monitor winds 24/7, facilitating a deeper understanding of atmospheric events like clouds and storms. All these efforts are aimed at advancing meteorological research and improving forecasting accuracy.