Books by R R Kelkar

It is an acknowledged fact and also a common experience that the accuracy of weather prediction has increased substantially in the last two decades or so. This can be attributed to a large extent to the continuous upgradation of the capabilities of weather satellites. India has always been at the forefront in this area and currently it has two very sophisticated state-of-art INSAT-3D satellites that provide half-hourly images of the weather, and a variety of data like vertical profiles of temperature, cloud motion winds and sea surface temperature.The purpose of this book is to explain the science behind the weather satellites, the constraints of technology, and the wide possibilities of application. That too in a simple way that would make it interesting to readers whether they are well-versed with meteorology or not.

Life in India revolves around the Indian southwest monsoon which is the most intense among all global monsoons. It is India’s prime source of water, and Indian agriculture, food grain production and the GDP growth rate are linked to the behaviour of the monsoon rains. This book deals with the particular challenge posed by the need for monsoon prediction, users’ expectations, the current state-of-art in monsoon modelling, present scientific limitations and future prospects. It discusses the projections of monsoon behaviour in the 21st century, and the likely impact of global warming on the monsoon. The book can serve as a textbook for university courses in atmospheric and environmental sciences, as a guide for operational meteorologists, and as a source of reference for scientists, research workers and all others interested in the Indian monsoon.

Climate change has been described as the biggest challenge that the world will have to face in the twenty first century and developing countries like India will have to bear its impacts. Climate change is a complex issue that has scientific, political, economic, and social aspects. This book offers a holistic view of climatic change with a special reference to India and covers a wide range of topics including: • Evidence of climate change • Climate monitoring • Climate modelling and prediction • Impacts on glaciers, sea level and tropical cyclones • Impacts on monsoon, agriculture and human health • Politics and economics of climate change • Preparing for the future The book can serve as a textbook for university courses in atmospheric and environmental sciences, and as a source of reference for scientists and research workers and a storehouse of authentic information for all others interested in climate change