Wayanad Gets Advanced X-Band Radar

The torrential rains, which triggered a massive landslide in the valley above Punchirimattom near the Mundakkai area, led to catastrophic debris flows, intensifying the destruction.

Details

·         Radar stands for ‘radio detection and ranging’; It uses radio waves to detect objects, measure distance, velocity, and characteristics. A transmitter emits a signal aimed at an object (e.g., clouds in meteorology). The signal reflects off the object and returns to the radar’s receiver for analysis. This type of radar uses the Doppler effect, which is the change in frequency as the source of waves moves toward or away from a listener. 

·         It tracks cloud movement, direction, and speed based on frequency changes.

·         Measures intensity (e.g., rainfall) by emitting radiation in pulses and analyzing how often they reflect back. This helps monitor wind patterns and storms.

X-Band Radar

·         X-band radar operates in the 8-12 GHz range with wavelengths of 2-4 cm, offering higher-resolution images by using shorter wavelengths.

Applications in meteorology; These radars detect smaller particles, like rain droplets or fog, due to their lower wavelengths. Limitations

·         X-band radar has a shorter range because higher frequency radiation attenuates faster.

·         It will monitor soil movements to help predict landslides, performing high-temporal sampling to track changes rapidly.

India’s Radar Network

·         India began using weather radars in the 1950s. 

·         The first indigenously made X-band radar was installed in New Delhi in 1970.

·         X-band radar network: India uses X-band radars for storm and wind detection. Some radars have dual capabilities.

·         S-band radars: Operate at 2-4 GHz and are used for long-range detection. The first cyclone detection S-band radar was set up in Visakhapatnam in 1970.

·         Radar expansion: India is set to install 56 additional Doppler radars as part of the ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’. This includes up to 60 meteorological radars by 2026.

·         Northeast radar installation: The government is procuring 10 X-band Doppler radars to improve weather forecasting in northeastern states and Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti districts.

NISAR: A Joint NASA-ISRO Project 

·         NASA and ISRO are collaborating on the NISAR satellite (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) to map the Earth’s landmasses using radar imaging.

L- and S-band radar 

·         The satellite will carry an L-band radar (1.25 GHz, 24 cm) from NASA and an S-band radar (3.2 GHz, 9.3 cm) from ISRO to track natural changes on Earth.

Expected launch

·         The satellite is planned for launch in 2025 aboard an ISRO GSLV Mk II rocket at a total cost of $1.5 billion, mostly funded by NASA.