Aridity Anomaly Outlook Index: IMD

Question 1

WHY IN NEWS?

Answer 1

Recently, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has released the Aridity Anomaly Outlook (AAO) Index of July 2022, which says at least 85% of districts face arid conditions across India.
At least 85 per cent of districts face arid conditions across India, according to the Aridity Anomaly Outlook Index for July, issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Question 2

What is the Aridity Anomaly Outlook Index?

Answer 2

What is the Aridity Anomaly Outlook Index?
About:
The index monitors agricultural drought, a situation when rainfall and soil moisture are inadequate to support healthy crop growth till maturity, causing crop stress.

An anomaly from the normal value signifies a water shortage in these districts that could directly impact agricultural activity.

It is Developed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Question 3

FINDINGS

Answer 3

Only 63 of 756 districts are non-arid, while 660 are facing different degrees of aridity — mild, moderate and severe.
Some 196 districts are in the grip of a ‘severe’ degree of dryness and 65 of these are in Uttar Pradesh (highest).
Bihar had the second highest number of districts (33) experiencing arid conditions. The state also has a high rainfall deficit of 45%.

Question 4

IMD

Answer 4

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.

It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology. IMD is headquartered in Delhi and operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica. Regional offices are at Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati and New Delhi.

IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organisation. It has the responsibility for forecasting, naming and distribution of warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region, including the Malacca Straits, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Formed -1875
Type Government agency
Jurisdiction Government of India
Headquarters Mausam Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Annual budget ₹514.03 crore (US$64 million) (2022)

Ministers responsible-
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Earth Sciences

Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences

Agency executive -
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology