Question

Consider the following statements regarding the SAFAR system inaugurated recently :

A. It is a very advanced air quality and weather forecast system.

B. It was developed indigenously by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.

C. It will not measure the sun’s UV - Index.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

1. A only
2. A and C only
3. A and B only
4. A, B and C

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : A and B only

The correct answer is A and B only.

• System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR): 
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, has introduced the System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) to provide location-specific information on air quality in near real-time and its forecast 1-3 days in advance in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi and Pune. Hence statement A is correct.
  • This system benefits the general population by increasing awareness of climate-related events and forecasting adverse environmental effects.
  • The system is indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and is operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).  Hence statement B is correct.
  • It monitors all weather parameters like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, UV radiation, and solar radiation.  Hence statement C is incorrect.
  • Pollutants monitored by the SAFAR system are PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Mercury.

• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune:
  • The Institute was founded as the Institute of Tropical Meteorology (ITM) on 17 November 1962 at Pune (the then Poona), as a distinct unit of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
  • Consequent to the recommendation of the Committee for Organization of Scientific Research (COSR) appointed by the Government of India the Institute was transformed into an autonomous organization on 1st April 1971 under the name Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
  • In the initial years, along with the IMD, the Institute functioned under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, but later in 1985, it was brought under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Ministry of Science & Technology, and now, with effect from 12 July 2006 the IITM has been under the administrative control of the specially formed Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).