Climate modeling in India: Present status and the way forward

Around 65 scientists from 24 institutions engaged in climate science research in India, assembled to discuss the outcome of the recently concluded network program on climate modeling undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India on 19-20 July, 2016. A talk on DST’s initiatives on building science and technology capacities in climate change started off the first scientific session of the workshop, titled 'Building National Capacity in Climate Modelling: Status and Strategies.' Following this, a representative of MoES presented an overarching view of the initiatives and programs on climate mod­eling supported by the ministry. The second scientific session, titled 'Prioritization of Research & Capacity Needs, and Identification of Themes for the Proposed Network Programme,' began with an outline of the rationale behind the proposed Network Programme on Climate Modeling. This was followed by talks from the conveners of the four identified themes, essentially form the thrust areas that require a clear and present attention from the climate modeling community in India. The identified themes are process and phenomenological studies through modeling, understanding extremes, climate projections, and regional climate modeling.