Laser-powered study on climate change

VELLORE: The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) attached to the Department of Space, government of India, is planning to set up a network of LIDAR (Laser Radar System) with the help of indigenously developed sensor tools in ten locations across the country in the first phase to study the aerosol distribution over India.This was disclosed by Dr A Jayaraman, director of NARL, Gadanki (near Chittoor, AP) while inaugurating a two-day Third International conference on ‘Sensors and Related Networks’ (SENNET 12) organised by the School of Electronics Engineering and Center for Nano Technology Research attached to the VIT university on its campus on Friday.The conference is being hosted by VIT in association with the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam and the University of Applied Sciences (UAS), Karlsruhe, Germany.Jayaraman said that the proposed network of LIDAR is likely to estimate aerosols’ role in global and regional climate changes in the country. This industrial grade lidar would help understand the South West and North East wind systems. “We are also planning to develop tools based on sensor technology, he said. Dr Kamachimudali of IGCAR, Kalpakkam said that the new breed of electronic sensors have played a vital role in power generation prospects in the country.Professor Thorsten Leize, UAS, Germany, said that a common course on sensor technology was being jointly offered by the VIT and the UAS under which 5 VIT students would go to Germany while three from Germany were likely to arrive at VIT.Dr J P Raina, chairman of the organising committee of SENNET 12  said the two-day event with participation by 150 delegates from India and abroad, would have 10 sessions,  14 invited talks and 110  presentations.