New Delhi, March 23 On the occasion of World Meteorological Day on Monday, the IMD has inducted a digital surface meteorological observation system into its surface monitoring network, an official statement said.
The new system is based on digital sensors with Wi-Fi-enabled electronics to measure air temperature, atmospheric humidity, pressure, wind data, and rainfall, providing geo-tagged data for meteorological applications.
"This cost-effective system has features such as automated data quality control, remote online monitoring using dashboards, and maintenance through remote access," the IMD said in a statement.
Also, the system's sensors provide data at a high sampling rate, offering higher temporal resolution and improved accuracy with reliable real-time data.
According to the statement, the digital surface meteorological observation system will, in the following years, entirely replace mercury-based sensors in the IMD's network.
"India joins many developed countries which have implemented modernization of the surface observational instruments and replaced analogue mechanical instruments along with self-recording type of instruments with electronic ones," the IMD said.
The department notes that digital sensors in place of mercury-based sensors will protect both the environment and human health.