Overview
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences secretary inaugurated the open‑field observatory at Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, with AU providing campus land to anchor joint research and student training.
- IITM outfitted the ₹60 crore facility with polarisation lidar, wind lidar, and Doppler radar to map winds, clouds, and aerosols for stronger cyclone tracking.
- Officials said the data will raise model accuracy for coastal forecasts and strengthen early warnings for fishermen, farmers, and disaster managers.
- The team marked first measurements with a balloon launch, and instruments logged a thunderstorm over the city on day one.
- The site joins Mission Mausam testbeds in Bhopal, Mumbai, and Mahabaleshwar, with a Chennai location planned next.