Sat-based Automatic Rain Gauge for city

CHENNAI: As part of the modernisation programme of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the city’s first satellite-based Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) station was inaugurated here on Thursday. With the city limits expanding, the conventional surface weather observatories at just two places — Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam — do not hold good for the entire area. The ARG, which is now functional at Sathyabama University campus, is the first of 10 other stations that are set to come up in and around the Greater Chennai area.The other stations will be located at PWD Taramani, Anna University, Hindustan University, LMOIS Kolapakkam, Poonamallee, Chembarambakam, Puzhal, KVK Kaatupakkam and HVF Avadi.Dr Y E A Raj, deputy director general of meteorology, RMC, Chennai, said, “The installations are ready, and will be commissioned by mid-April. Meanwhile, the data from this ARG is available online for anyone to download.” He also announced that a national network of 1,350 ARGs would be functional by the end of 2012. “Of these, 209 will be in south  India with 75 in TN and Puducherry.”