Weather Forecasting — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, focus on factual recall and conceptual clarity. Key areas include: 1. Indian Meteorological Satellites: Names (INSAT-3D/3DR, Kalpana-1, SCATSAT-1), their orbits (geostationary vs. polar), and primary functions (imagery, soundings, ocean winds).

2. Ground-based Systems: Functions of Doppler Weather Radar (DWR), Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and Radiosondes. Understand what each measures and its application (e.g., DWR for nowcasting). 3.

Key Institutions: Roles of IMD, NCMRWF, and ISRO. 4. Forecasting Concepts: Basic understanding of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), Ensemble Forecasting (why it's used), and Data Assimilation.

5. Applications: Specific examples of how forecasting aids disaster management (cyclone lead times), agriculture (GKMS), and aviation. 6. Recent Developments: Keep an eye on new satellite launches, AI/ML integration by IMD, and major policy initiatives.

Questions often test the 'what' and 'how' of technology, along with their direct applications. Pay attention to distinguishing features between similar technologies (e.g., geostationary vs. polar satellites).