Hydrometeorology Courses

India is an agricultural country. Indian economy is mainly based on rainfall obtained during monsoon season (June to September) and during the post monsoon season (October – November). However the agricultural production crucially depends on water resources and efficient water management. An efficient water management requires rainfall information (observation, archival, proper analysis). Therefore, eight states in India and IMD are involved in World Bank aided Hydrology Project (1996).

The project objectives include enhancement of capabilities of agencies in surface water and ground water hydrology for collection and management of hydrometric and water quality data and the use of such data for water resources evaluation. Further, it is a human resource development to attempt to produce qualified staff for all hydrological activities (field observations, data processing, data management specialists for applications and understanding of hydrological data).

Personnel from various agencies related to state hydrology and water resource management are participating in this programme. Three level training courses (designed by IMD) are:

Hydrometeorology Basic Course

Qualifications:

Designed for personnel involved in field observation

Period and Location:

3 - 4 Weeks, at Pune, Banglore, Thiruvanthapuram, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, and Chennai Centres

Main Objective:

In this course candidates are trained both in practical and theoretical aspects of operation of Ordinary Rain Gauge (ORG) and Self Recording Rain Gauge (SRRG). CTI has trained 1814 personnel in 93 batches.

Subjects Taught:

• Importance of rainfall in country’s economy and its place in hydrological cycle
• Brief history of rainfall recording in India
• Meteorological Observations: spatial, diurnal and temporal frequency
• Rainfall: Type, intensity and measurement
• Principle of ORG and SRRG
• Installation and maintenance of a Rain Gauge station
• Tabulation of Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) data
• Procedure of recording and compilation of rainfall data
• Rainfall Normals
• Completion of registers, report forms: calculation of means and totals
• Practical exercises

Mode of Evaluation of Performance:

Objective type test, covering practical exercises also.

---

Hydrometeorology Supervisors' Course

Qualifications:

Designed for Junior Engineers (diploma in engineering) or Assistant Engineers

Period and Location:

3 -6 Weeks, at CTI, Pune

Main Objective:

This course covers all the operational aspects of Full Climate Station (FCS) and the scrutinization of data for ensuring quality. Till March 2003, CTI has trained 240 personnel in 14 batches.

Subjects Taught:

• A brief history of meteorological observations in India
• Concept of principal meteorological elements: rainfall, radiation, temperature, humidity, wind, pressure and evaporation
• Spatial, temporal, diurnal and seasonal variation of these elements
• Meteorological Instruments: Raingauge, thermometers, Psychrometer, evaporimeter, wind and radiation instruments, Barometer
• Self Recording Instruments: ARG, thermograph, hydrograph, barograph
• Installation and maintenance of a climatic station
• Observational practices
• Recording, scrutiny, tabulation and registration of meteorological data
• Coding practices and transmission of surface data (SYNOP CODE)
• Sources of errors in measurements
• Non-instrumental observations
• Manual scrutiny, quality checks
• Data recording and compilation
• Computation of basin rainfall
• Interpolation and estimation of missing data
• Climate of India and important weather system affecting the coun
• Practical exercises

Mode of Evaluation of Performance:

Practical and theoretical exams (One paper each)

---

Hydrometeorology Refresher Course

Qualifications:

Designed for Senior Level officers of Central and State Hydrological Agencies

Period and Location:

2 Weeks, at CTI, Pune Centre

Main Objective:

This course fully covers advanced aspects of hydrometeorology and use of hydro-meteorological data in dam design for flood warning and for management of water resource projects. Till March 2003, CTI has trained 39 personnel in 5 batches.

Subjects Taught:

• Rainfall as a natural resource and its socio-economic importance
• Preparation of complete duration, partial duration and extreme series of rainfall
• Intensity and frequency analysis, Calculation of T-year rainfall and its applications
• Computation of water budget of a basin
• Automatic Data Processing including use of P.C. based Software, consistency checks, interpolation and estimation of missing data
• Inspection of a climate station
• Rainfall organization of India
• Climate of India, basic ideas on climate change
• Floods and droughts in India
• Designing raingauge network for hydrological purposes
• Elements of design storm studies – storm selection
• Rainfall-runoff relation
• Practical exercises
• Presentation by participants

Mode of Evaluation of Performance:

Practical and theoretical exams (One paper each)

---

List of Ongoing & Forthcoming Refresher courses: