Why in the news-

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has commissioned Atmospheric Research Testbed-Central India (ART-CI) near Bhopal.

About Atmospheric Research Testbed

ART-CI stands as an innovative testbed facility, pioneering the exploration of monsoon convection and land-atmosphere interactions, marking a significant advancement in climate research.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune leads ART-CI, operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

ART-CI primarily targets the monsoon trough area, encompassing the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ), a critical component of the regional climate system.
Understanding this zone is paramount for precise weather forecasts and accurate climate modelling within India.

MCZ is a region in India stretching from Gujarat to West Bengal in the east.
India Meteorological Department demarcates it as an agricultural region where cropping is mostly rainfed.
It is the region within the monsoon trough area that plays a central role in the dynamics of the Indian monsoon system.
It is characterized by intense convective activity, significant rainfall, and crucial atmospheric interactions that influence the overall behavior of the monsoon.
The MCZ typically experiences a concentration of atmospheric processes that drive the onset, progression, and withdrawal of the monsoon rains across the Indian subcontinent.

ART-CI’s development unfolds incrementally as part of the Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS) umbrella scheme.
The facility will feature an extensive array of remote-sensing and in-situ instruments.
These tools would help monitoring of various atmospheric parameters like convection, cloud cover, precipitation, soil moisture, radiation levels, and microphysics.