Latest news with #IITM
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu Governor emphasises urgent need to address intellectual disabilities
Intellectual disabilities are increasingly becoming a key issue in the country and must be addressed as a top priority, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said. He noted that a solution has to be found for intellectual disability. Speaking at the South Zone Regional Abilympics and Conference 2025, said: 'Developing technology which will benefit people with disabilities (PwDs) in the long run is the need of the hour. I am hopeful that institutes like IITM will come up with the right R&D for the PwD sector.' Organised by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust, and supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India, TPCDT, and IndusInd Bank, the event saw over 100 PwDs from across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General of NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust highlighted that they have help over 1 lakh people with disabilities to secure jobs. also pointed out that Sarthak Educational Trust is planning to launch Sarthak Global University, which is aimed to fill in the gaps in Early Intervention and therapy for infants and children, shortage of rehabilitation professionals and more. The plan is to start with 5 schools in 20 departments providing over 200 courses which is aimed to train 10,000 professionals specializing in disability rehab, inclusive education, assistive technology and more. This will enable 100,000 PwD's through education, vocational training, and skill development programs. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras said, ' We have a centre developed for mobility in IITM. As a country we have the human capital to develop these technological needs which can benefit PwD's in their daily life. We are looking forward to a long technical collaboration with Sarthak to provide mobility and accessibility solutions for PwD's.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Delhi AQI improves to 140; CAQM lifts GRAP Stage-I restrictions across NCR
New Delhi: With Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) improving to 140 on 15 June, 2025, the Commission for Air Quality Management ( CAQM ) revoked Stage-I restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) daily bulletin, the AQI recorded for June 15 stands at 140, placing it in the 'Moderate' category. The Sub-Committee on GRAP of CAQM, which reviewed the air quality and meteorological forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), unanimously decided to withdraw Stage-I measures. 'Keeping in view this trend of improvement in the AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM predicting the average air quality of Delhi to stay in 'Moderate' category in the coming days, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP unanimously decided to revoke Stage-I of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,' CAQM said. GRAP Stage-I was enforced on June 7, 2025, in the entire NCR in view of deteriorating air quality. However, the panel noted that due to favourable meteorological conditions, Delhi's AQI has remained consistently in the moderate range, with forecasts suggesting similar trends in the coming days. All concerned agencies of State Governments and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) have been instructed to ensure continued implementation of directions and advisories issued by CAQM, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), CPCB and the respective State Pollution Control Boards/DPCC. The Commission emphasised the importance of sustaining current air quality levels and avoiding any deterioration to the 'Poor' category. Agencies were also reminded to comply with all timelines outlined in CAQM's comprehensive air pollution control policy, particularly on dust mitigation and other sectoral actions. The Sub-Committee stated that it will continue to monitor the air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas and will review the situation based on future forecasts by IMD and IITM for any necessary action.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Experiencing an unusually hot summer? It may be an ‘ELLA' year, Pune study says
1 2 3 Pune: As northwest India battles another blistering heatwave this week, a new study from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has revealed how a change in the Pacific Ocean patterns can make summers in India feel like the inside of an oven. This dramatic change, from El Niño to La Niña, triggers what the researchers have now called 'ELLA years', essentially transition years when the heat can turn up across India, making days and nights hotter, longer, and more unbearable — especially for those without air-conditioning or working outdoors, the study found. "In such years, many more districts face unusually hot days and nights, especially from Feb to May. We found that even the winter months get warmer in the ELLA years, particularly in northern and northwestern states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, making the heat season start earlier and last longer," said Rajib Chattopadhyay, an IITM scientist and one of the lead authors of the study. During the pre-monsoon months of March to May, the study found a marked increase in the number of hot days in northwest India — particularly in Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Haryana and Delhi. "In ELLA years, these districts saw many more extremely hot days compared to what's normally expected for that time of year. This suggests that residents in these areas face more frequent and prolonged spells of extreme heat, increasing risk of dehydration, heatstroke and power-grid stress," Chattopadhyay said. The joint IMD-IITM research revealed that heatwave severity across India tended to be far greater when an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean was followed by a La Niña, or ELLA (El Niño to La Niña). The research found that during such years, more districts in the country tended to experience extreme summer temperatures, particularly between March and May, compared to years when the transition was not to La Niña. Chattopadhyay said the study analyzed data from 1961 to 2020. "It found that during ELLA years, both day and night temperatures tended to remain unusually high over most of India. Notably, night-time temperatures remained elevated across southern and eastern India, leading to lower day-night temperature differences, which aggravate heat stress and discomfort. We observed that during these transition years, the intensity and spread of hot extremes significantly increased, especially across the southern peninsula, east coast, and parts of central India," he said. He said that in fact, the number of hot days — when daily temperatures exceed the district's 90th percentile — was almost twice as high in ELLA years compared to the non-transition years. For example, during Feb to April, districts in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka saw up to 10 extreme hot days per month, compared to about five in other years. El Niño events are known to trigger heatwaves in India by weakening the monsoon and causing atmospheric subsidence (downward air movement that warms the air). But this study showed that not all El Niño years have the same impact. The "asymmetry," as scientists call it, comes from whether or not the El Niño is followed by La Niña. "Interestingly, almost all ELLA years in the past (e.g., 1982–83, 1997–98, 2015–16) were associated with Eastern Pacific El Niño events — the more intense variety — which then transitioned rapidly to La Niña conditions. These patterns amplified heat buildup over the Indian region. We also found that during ELLA years, the Bay of Bengal and the South Indian Ocean are significantly warmer. This oceanic warming, combined with atmospheric changes like persistent high-pressure systems and increased moisture, created a perfect storm for heatwaves. Warmer seas pump more heat and humidity into the air, particularly over eastern and southern India, which can cause hot and sticky nights and increase health risks," Chattopadhyay added. The research highlighted the need for early warning systems that factor in global ocean trends and their regional effects. It also calls for region-specific heat action plans, especially for areas shown to be more vulnerable during ELLA years, the researchers said Their study was recently published in Atmosphere-Ocean, an international scientific journal. Pune: As northwest India battles another blistering heatwave this week, a new study from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has revealed how a change in the Pacific Ocean patterns can make summers in India feel like the inside of an oven. This dramatic change, from El Niño to La Niña, triggers what the researchers have now called 'ELLA years', essentially transition years when the heat can turn up across India, making days and nights hotter, longer, and more unbearable — especially for those without air-conditioning or working outdoors, the study found. "In such years, many more districts face unusually hot days and nights, especially from Feb to May. We found that even the winter months get warmer in the ELLA years, particularly in northern and northwestern states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, making the heat season start earlier and last longer," said Rajib Chattopadhyay, an IITM scientist and one of the lead authors of the study. During the pre-monsoon months of March to May, the study found a marked increase in the number of hot days in northwest India — particularly in Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Haryana and Delhi. "In ELLA years, these districts saw many more extremely hot days compared to what's normally expected for that time of year. This suggests that residents in these areas face more frequent and prolonged spells of extreme heat, increasing risk of dehydration, heatstroke and power-grid stress," Chattopadhyay said. The joint IMD-IITM research revealed that heatwave severity across India tended to be far greater when an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean was followed by a La Niña, or ELLA (El Niño to La Niña). The research found that during such years, more districts in the country tended to experience extreme summer temperatures, particularly between March and May, compared to years when the transition was not to La Niña. Chattopadhyay said the study analyzed data from 1961 to 2020. "It found that during ELLA years, both day and night temperatures tended to remain unusually high over most of India. Notably, night-time temperatures remained elevated across southern and eastern India, leading to lower day-night temperature differences, which aggravate heat stress and discomfort. We observed that during these transition years, the intensity and spread of hot extremes significantly increased, especially across the southern peninsula, east coast, and parts of central India," he said. He said that in fact, the number of hot days — when daily temperatures exceed the district's 90th percentile — was almost twice as high in ELLA years compared to the non-transition years. For example, during Feb to April, districts in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka saw up to 10 extreme hot days per month, compared to about five in other years. El Niño events are known to trigger heatwaves in India by weakening the monsoon and causing atmospheric subsidence (downward air movement that warms the air). But this study showed that not all El Niño years have the same impact. The "asymmetry," as scientists call it, comes from whether or not the El Niño is followed by La Niña. "Interestingly, almost all ELLA years in the past (e.g., 1982–83, 1997–98, 2015–16) were associated with Eastern Pacific El Niño events — the more intense variety — which then transitioned rapidly to La Niña conditions. These patterns amplified heat buildup over the Indian region. We also found that during ELLA years, the Bay of Bengal and the South Indian Ocean are significantly warmer. This oceanic warming, combined with atmospheric changes like persistent high-pressure systems and increased moisture, created a perfect storm for heatwaves. Warmer seas pump more heat and humidity into the air, particularly over eastern and southern India, which can cause hot and sticky nights and increase health risks," Chattopadhyay added. The research highlighted the need for early warning systems that factor in global ocean trends and their regional effects. It also calls for region-specific heat action plans, especially for areas shown to be more vulnerable during ELLA years, the researchers said Their study was recently published in Atmosphere-Ocean, an international scientific journal.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Ocean gas that might offset global warming may rise by 2100: IITM Study
Pune: A new Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) study has revealed that a natural gas produced by tiny ocean organisms could play a bigger role in cooling the planet as global warming continues. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a sulphur-containing gas released from the oceans, is the largest natural source of sulphur in the atmosphere. This gas helps form aerosols that reflect sunlight back into space, potentially reducing global temperatures. DMS is sometimes referred to as the "cool twin" of carbon dioxide (CO2) because it has a cooling effect on the planet, while CO2 is a well-known greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. "DMS is created by microscopic marine organisms called phytoplankton. When released into the air, it turns into particles (aerosols) that help form clouds. These clouds can reflect sunlight, which cools the Earth by reducing the amount of heat absorbed. Scientists have long studied DMS because it could act as a natural brake on global warming," IITM scientist Anoop Mahajan told TOI. The study, published recently, used advanced machine-learning models to predict how DMS levels in seawater and its release into the atmosphere might change from 1850 to 2100. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 자신이 전략의 달인이라고 생각하시나요? 레이드 섀도우 레전드 Undo "Unlike earlier climate models that gave conflicting results, this research offered a clearer picture. It showed that while DMS concentrations in seawater are likely to decrease in the coming decades, the amount of DMS released into the air will actually increase. This is due to stronger winds and warmer sea surface temperatures, which help push more DMS from the ocean into the atmosphere. The increase in DMS emissions could have a cooling effect on the planet," Mahajan said. As human activities, like burning coal and oil, produce less sulphur dioxide (a pollutant that also forms aerosols) because of stricter air quality rules, natural DMS will become a more important source of these cooling particles, he added. The study predicted that DMS emissions could rise by 1.6% to 3.7% by 2100, depending on how much global warming occurs. "However, this does not mean DMS will fully offset global warming. The cooling effect from increased DMS emissions is expected to be modest compared to the warming caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. The rise in DMS emissions is a positive feedback from nature, but it's not a silver bullet. We still need strong action to cut greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change effectively," Mahajan added. The study found that DMS emissions are likely to increase most in regions like the Arctic and southern mid-latitudes, where there are fewer human-made aerosols. In these areas, DMS could have a stronger cooling effect. However, in key ocean regions like the Southern Ocean and parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, seawater DMS levels are expected to drop, which could limit the overall cooling potential. Other institutes involved in the study included Savitribai Phule Pune University, as well as institutes from Italy, Spain and Canada.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
62% cut in PM2.5 needed to meet national standards
New Delhi: Delhi requires another 62% cut in PM2.5 levels to meet the national clean air standards, reveals a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The air quality trend since 2018, when most of the monitoring stations were set up, shows that the average annual PM2.5 levels (based on 38 stations) show a 10% increase since 2018 overall. However, after the pandemic year of 2020–21, the levels increased, stayed elevated, and the curve turned upward in 2023–24. "The maximum values in 2024 were the highest in the past few years. Delhi requires as much as a 62% reduction in its annual PM2.5 average level to meet the national ambient air quality standard," the report says. Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's executive director, said: "What is needed here is more aggressive upscaling of mobility strategies, zero-emission vehicle transition, robust waste management, action on unregulated industry and the use of solid fuels in households, and regional airshed level interventions." The report highlighted that though Delhi has a large number of air quality monitoring stations, these are not well distributed to cover the population in all land uses, and there are still some "shadow zones" with low station density. "Currently, the monitoring stations in Delhi are mainly centred in and around the southern and central parts of Delhi. The southwest and northwest peripheries have minimal monitoring stations, leading to gaps in air quality monitoring. The stretch between Mundka, Bawana and Narela should have more monitoring stations as these are the areas that record some of the highest PM2.5 levels," the report said. CSE, which analysed the data of the Decision Support System (DSS), which is the dynamic forecasting of IITM, identified the top concerns among local sources as vehicles, industries in Delhi and its periphery, construction, waste burning and residential fuel. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Post crop burning season, the share of crop fire is less than 1%, the share of NCR and other districts is 64%, and the contribution of local pollution sources in Delhi increases further to 36.54%. At 30%, the contribution of local sources is significant, especially when it is considered that the city needs to reduce PM2.5 levels by 62% from a very high annual level of 105 micrograms per cubic metre," the report said. CSE said that between 2019–20 and 2024–25 financial years, Delhi received Rs 42.69 crore under the NCAP programme of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC), out of which Rs 13.94 crore or 32.64% was spent.
