Eighth WMO International Workshop on Monsoons (IWM-8) Inaugurated at IITM, Pune

Pune : 18 March 2025

The Eighth WMO International Workshop on Monsoons (IWM-8) was inaugurated on 17th March 2025 at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. The event, which is being held from 17-21 March 2025, brings together more than 320 researchers, meteorologists, and experts from across the globe. The hybrid workshop aims to advance the understanding and prediction of monsoons and their impacts in the face of a changing climate.

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Dr. M. Ravichandran, delivered the inaugural address virtually, highlighting the significance of enhanced satellite and field observations for improving monsoon prediction. He emphasized the need for robust monsoon prediction tools to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on society.

Dr. Ravichandran conveyed his best wishes for the success of the workshop and underscored the importance of international collaboration in improving monsoon prediction accuracy. He said that understanding the monsoon in the context of climate change requires advanced technologies and greater cooperation between countries and institutions.

Director General, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dr. M. Mohapatra, in his address, reflected on the century-old study of monsoons in India, acknowledging the challenges that remain in perfecting monsoon predictions. Dr. Mohapatra presented a historical overview of monsoon research and the pivotal roles played by institutes such as IITM, IMD, and MoES in advancing prediction models.

Director, IITM, Dr. R. Krishnan, in his welcome address, acknowledged the global significance of the workshop. He emphasized the need for sustained efforts in improving monsoon prediction and stressed that the findings from this workshop would be crucial in enhancing our understanding of regional monsoons and their response to climate change.

The workshop also features keynote addresses by prominent international experts, including Prof. Chris Davis, NSF-NCAR, USA, who delivered the keynote talk on "West African Monsoon and African Easterly Wave Dynamics." Dr. Nico Caltabiano (WWRP) and Dr. Hindumathi Palanisamy (WCRP),  Dr. R. Krishnan, Director IITM and Convener, Dr. E.N. Rajagopal, Executive Director IMPO were also present.

The Eighth WMO International Workshop on Monsoons (IWM-8) serves as a platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration among researchers, forecasters, and stakeholders. The discussions aim to address the pressing challenges posed by monsoon variability and extremes in a rapidly changing global climate.

The workshop focuses on five major themes: 

1. Regional Monsoons of the World and their Multi-scale Processes 

2. Monsoons in a Changing Climate 

3. Field Experiments and Multi-platform Measurements of Precipitation 

4. Research to Operations and Operations to Services Transitions and Communication 

5. Simulation and Prediction of Monsoons, including Extremes 

Around 320 participants from India and different countries are attending the international workshop. On-Site participants from USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Norway, Nigeria, Kenya, Switzerland, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Ghana and Online: Italy, China, will also be participating. The workshop also features 70 Early Career Researchers (ECRs), who will have a dedicated session on 19th March 2025. Approximately 140 ECRs are attending the event.

A Compendium of Abstracts from the workshop is available online, and detailed schedules, including talks and poster sessions, can be accessed on official event website: https://wmo-iwm8.tropmet.res.in.

For media inquiries, please contact:  

PRO, IITM, Pune, Mrs. Shompa Das; Email: shompa@tropmet.res.in 

For workshop-related clarifications, please contact: 

Executive Director IMPO, Dr. E.N. Rajagopal  ; Email: enraja@tropmet.res.in 

About the International Workshop on Monsoons (IWM) 

The IWM is a major quadrennial event organised under the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 

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