ACROSS scheme:

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 02, Dec 2021

Context:

Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a scheme called Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS) to be continued for next five years.

What will the citizens achieve from the successful roll-on of this scheme?

1. With improved forecasts, it will be easy for predicting the timings, intensity, frequency of disasters like cyclones, heat waves, thunderstorms, excessive rainfall etc., that is progressively growing uncertain with increasing climate change.
2. Increasing programmes will drive the employment benefits and provide the much-needed opportunities to learn in a sphere that remains neglected for long.
3. It will provide an impetus to utilizing the sizable number of scientific and technical talents available therein, along with most vital administrative support for sustaining the same.

ACROSS Scheme:

• ACROSS scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• It addresses different aspects of weather and climate services, which includes warnings for cyclone, storm surges, heat waves, thunderstorms etc.
• Each of these aspects is incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme “ACROSS” and is implemented in an integrated.

ACROSS is an umbrella scheme with eight sub-schemes encompassing the programmes for greater understanding of atmospheric science. These eight master schemes are as follows:

1. Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs).
2. Upgradation of Forecast System, Weather & Climate Services.
3. Atmospheric Observations Network.
4. Numerical Modelling of Weather and Climate.
5. Monsoon Mission III.
6. Monsoon Convection.
7. Clouds and Climate Change (MC4).
8. High Performance Computing System (HPCS).

Benefits of the Scheme:

• The scheme will provide improved weather, climate and   ocean   forecast  and services, thereby ensuring transfer of commensurate benefits to the various services.
• It will also provide a sizable number of scientific and technical staff along with requisite administrative support, thereby generating employment.
• To ensure last-mile connectivity of the weather based services to the end -user, a large number of agencies like the Krishi Vigyana Kendras of ICAR, Universities and local municipalities are roped in thus generating employment opportunities to many people. 

Implementation:

Implemented by MoES in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).