Which specialized scientific institution commissioned the state-of-the-art X-Band Dual-Polarization Doppler Weather Radar at Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, to provide real-time tracking of extreme precipitation events and cloudburst dynamics over the Western Ghats?

Solution

• While the IMD runs the national radar grid, this specific, localized X-Band Dual-Polarization research radar facility at Mahabaleshwar was systematically commissioned by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune , an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences .
• Dual-polarization radars emit both horizontal and vertical radio waves, allowing researchers to accurately assess the physical geometry, type, and size of precipitation particles inside active storm clouds.