IDUKKI: The state’s first high-altitude climate change research station has become operational in
Munnar
. The building and other facilities were arranged by
IIT Madras
(IITM).
The natural aerosol and bio-aerosol high-altitude laboratory will be managed and run by IITM. Prof Sachin S Gunte, of IITM, and Prof Biju C V, with Munnar engineering college’s civil engineering department, will lead research activities at the new station.
“From 2012 onwards IITM has been conducting aerosol and bio-aerosol studies at Munnar engineering college. The success of the study has resulted in the permanent laboratory and research station in Munnar,” Prof Biju told TOI.
“IITM was considering many high-altitude stations for the centre. Munnar’s clean air also played a key role in the decision. The station will have more facilities in future,” he said.
“Munnar met all the criteria for the research station, and the fact that the hill station is situated around 1,600m above sea level will ensure clean air for research activities,” Prof Gunte said.
Prof K P Sudheer, executive vice-president of the state council for science, technology and environment, said an automated weather station coming up adjacent to the laboratory will provide up-to-date weather details.
According to officials, there is no proper weather station in Munnar. The Pettimudy landslide, which claimed 70 lives last August, raised questions about the actual amount of rainfall received in the run-up to the tragedy. A weather station will help provide such data, they said.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the research station virtually on Saturday. CM’s scientific adviser M Chandradathan and Devikulam MLA S Rajendran also attended the function.
Munnar experienced third cold waves this winter. The first wave was recorded in the last week of December and the second one in the last week of January. The third cold wave hit in the second week of February. “The change in winter in Munnar is a clear indication of the change of the climate calendar,” climatologist Gopakumar Cholayil told TOI.
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