INCOIS Prioritizes Forecasts for High-Impact Events like Storm Surges and High Waves

Fast Summary

• New Appointment: Thayannur Mullachery Balakrishnan Nair (54) has been appointed Director of the Indian National Center for Ocean Facts Systems (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• INCOIS’s Achievements: Founded 25 years ago, INCOIS is now a global leader in operational oceanography, comparable to institutes in the US, UK, France, and Japan. It provides services such as potential Fishing Advisories (PFA), tsunami warnings, and ocean forecasts.
• Community Impact: Daily advisories reach nine lakh fishermen; services benefit sectors like maritime trade, tourism, and disaster management.
• Technological Advancements: advanced monitoring systems include tide gauges, weather stations, water quality buoys, tsunami buoys, gliders, Argo floats and future plans involve undersea cable observatories for real-time data.
• Forecasting Goals: Current forecasts cover 3-4 days but plans are underway for AI-driven long-term forecasting using enhanced satellite data and seabed observation systems.
• International Outreach: India provides oceanographic alert systems to 30-40 countries in the Indian Ocean region and trains personnel from around 97 nations.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The leadership transition at INCOIS signifies continuity in its mission to integrate science with societal needs.Over two decades of steady advances have positioned INCOIS as a cornerstone for disaster preparedness and resource guidance within India’s blue economy. Its direct contributions-fisheries assistance reaching millions or tsunami surveillance saving countless lives-illustrate a strong commitment toward leveraging scientific innovation for public good.

The institute’s global collaborations offer an opportunity for India to reinforce its influence in multinational efforts against climate change while supporting vulnerable coastal communities worldwide. For India itself-highly dependent on its coastline-a focus on advanced warning systems may address rising concerns over sea-level increases impacting livelihoods. Though, ensuring timely implementation of planned upgrades remains critical to fully realize these benefits.

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