Bengaluru: Fog disruptions may soon be a thing of the past at the Kempegowda International Airport. The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has entered into an agreement with Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) to conduct a collaborative study on atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of the airport.
The study will develop a Numerical Simulation Tool capable of predicting onset, intensity and dissipation of fog. The outcomes of this study will come as a big relief for passengers, flying in and out of Bengaluru during the winter months, when fog is at its peak. The agreement was signed at a function held at the JNCASR campus, in the presence of Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao.
The JNCASR Team – led by Prof. Sreenivas – will conduct extensive R&D on the microphysics of radiation fog and transport processes in the nocturnal atmospheric boundary layer over the next 40 months, leading to improved weather forecasting at the airport. Factors influencing the occurrence of fog, such as atmospheric variability, ground temperature, atmospheric aerosol loading, radiative fluxes, water vapour and energy transport in the surface layer will be monitored during the fog season and the preceding months.
To ensure accuracy of the study, specific instruments, including a Wind Cube, Humidity Temperature Profiler, Net Radiation Meters, Total Sky Scanner, Data Acquisition Switches and Velocity and Temperature Probes would be set up at designated areas in the vicinity of the Runway at the airport. At the MoU signing, Prof. Nagaraja, president, JNCASR, said that the institute possesses necessary ingredients and capabilities to support BIAL in this exercise that will not only benefit air travellers and airlines, but also data from this research would have several other uses over the long term. MD and CEO of BIAL Hari Marar said, “Fog-related issues in Bengaluru have caused delays and diversions, inconveniencing our passengers during this season.
It has also resulted in financial losses for the aviation industry.
We believe that this collaboration will enable the availability of data that would facilitate flight planning and scheduling, directly bringing in relief to our passengers.” He said that the second runway at the airport will be open for operations within eight months. “The new runway will be CAT III B-compliant, with an advanced navigation system that empowers aircraft to land and takeoff under conditions of heavy fog. However, fog can still significantly affect operations, and, hence, the prediction of fog is very important to adequately support enabled aircraft to operate under low-visibility conditions,” he said.
