CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX) has completed ten successful years of pioneering research into the formation, behavior, and prediction of dense winter fog over North India, particularly across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This milestone marks a major achievement in understanding one of the most challenging weather phenomena that severely impacts public safety, transportation, and economic activities during the winter season.
About WiFEX: India Dedicated Fog Research Program
Launched in the winter of 2015, WiFEX was initiated at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi. The experiment is spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). The program is conducted with strong technical support from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
WiFEX is one of the very few long-term open-field experiments in the world dedicated specifically to studying winter fog, a seasonal weather hazard that causes significant disruption to air, road, and rail transport systems in northern India.
Key Objectives Of Winter Fog Experiment
The WiFEX initiative aims to:
Improve nowcasting (next 6 hours) and short-term forecasting of fog events over various spatial and temporal scales.
Enhance scientific understanding of fog microphysics and meteorology, which is critical for modeling its formation and dissipation.
Reduce the negative impact of dense fog on aviation safety, public transportation, economic activities, and human life, especially in fog-prone regions.
Methodology: Advanced Tools For Ground-Level Insights
To achieve these goals, WiFEX scientists have employed a comprehensive observational approach, deploying state-of-the-art instruments such as:
Micrometeorological towers
Ceilometers (to measure the height and density of fog layers)
High-frequency sensors
Devices for measuring aerosols, temperature inversions, humidity, wind turbulence, soil heat flux, and atmospheric radiation
These tools have helped researchers collect granular data on the physical processes behind fog formation, resulting in one of the most detailed fog datasets available globally.
Technological Advancement: India’s High-Resolution Fog Model
A key outcome of WiFEX is the development of a high-resolution fog prediction model with a spatial resolution of 3 km. This probabilistic forecasting model is designed to:
Predict the onset and dissipation of fog events
Estimate visibility levels, duration, and intensity
Provide early warnings for dense fog (visibility below 200 meters)
With an accuracy exceeding 85% in forecasting very dense fog, this model has become one of the most advanced tools in South Asia for operational fog forecasting.
Significance And Future Applications
WiFEX has significantly improved India’s ability to forecast hazardous fog conditions and issue timely alerts to key sectors like civil aviation, railway operations, and road traffic management. By understanding the regional dynamics of fog better than ever before, WiFEX is enabling more data-driven decision-making, reducing delays and accidents, and helping to protect both economic assets and human lives.
Welcome to Notopedia.com, your free learning platform that caters to the diverse needs of students and aspirants across a spectrum of entrance exams and educational endeavors. Whether you're preparing for highly anticipated exams like CAT, NEET, JEE Main, or bank job vacancies, our platform offers a wealth of resources to guide you towards success. Stay up-to-date with the latest exam dates, announcements, and results for various government recruitment exams, including SSC CGL, CHSL, NDA, and UPSC. Explore comprehensive study materials, sample papers, and exam patterns to hone your skills and boost your confidence. From important dates like CBSE Class 10 and 12 date sheets to exam-specific information like JEE Main application form date, we cover it all. Notopedia.com is your go-to source for everything from admissions and admit cards to scholarships and college information. Whether you're aiming for a career in defense, government, banking, or higher education, our free learning platform equips you with the knowledge and resources you need to excel. Join us in your educational journey and unlock a world of opportunities, guidance, and comprehensive support.
For more Updates and Information - Visit Notopedia's Bulletin Board
For Latest Sarkari Jobs - Visit Notopedia's Sarkari Jobs Section
For access to more than 20,000 Colleges - Visit Notopedia's College Section
For School Studies and Exams Preparation across 14 Boards - Visit Notopedia's School Section
For Comprehensive Preparation of Sarkari Job Exams - Visit Notopedia's Sarkari Exams Section
