ACROSS Scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for the continuation of the umbrella scheme "Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)" along with its eight sub-schemes to the next finance cycle of five years i.e. 2021-2026 at an estimated cost of Rs.2,135 crore.

ACROSS Scheme

• One of the mandates of the Ministry of Earth Sciences is to observe the weather, climate, and ocean parameters and carry out R&D activities to develop and improve the capability to forecast weather, climate, and hazard-related phenomena for societal, economic, and environmental benefits including addressing the science of climate change and developing climate services.

• The increased incidence of extreme weather events due to Global Climate change and the risk associated with severe weather has prompted MoES to formulate many target-oriented programs, which are carried out in an integrated manner through IMD, IITM, NCMRWF, and INCOIS. As a result, these activities are put together under the umbrella scheme "ACROSS".
• ACROSS scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and addresses different aspects of weather and climate services. Each of these aspects is incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme "ACROSS" and is implemented in an integrated manner through the aforesaid four institutes.
• The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its units namely the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF); Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).

The eight sub-schemes under the ACROSS scheme are multi-disciplinary in nature and will be implemented in an integrated manner through IMD, IITM, NCMRWF, and INCOIS to cover all the aspects of the weather and climate. Each institute has a designated role for accomplishing the above tasks through the following eight schemes:

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

Impact of ACROSS Scheme

• The scheme will provide improved weather, climate, ocean forecast and services, and other hazard-related services thereby ensuring transfer of commensurate benefits to the end-user through various services like Public weather service, Agro-meteorological Services, Aviation Services, Environmental monitoring services, Hydro-meteorological services, climate services, tourism, pilgrimage, power generation, water management, Sports & adventure, etc.
• The whole process from the generation of forecast to its delivery requires considerable manpower at every stage, thereby generating employment opportunities for many people.