Covid impact: Weather forecasts hit turbulence on grounded jets
New Delhi: Global weather forecasting systems have hit an air pocket as they depend on crucial data on wind, humidity and temperature relayed by aircraft sensors, which have almost vanished as an overwhelming majority of flights have been grounded.
Indian scientists say they are managing without aircraft data, but the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says it is concerned about the quality of forecasts as meteorological information from aeroplanes has fallen up to 90%. Further, lockdowns have hit even surface data collection in developing countries where ground stations are not automated.
