This webinar will cover three studies that explore ways to improve irrigation water management at the farm scale. The first study develops a simulation-optimization algorithm that uses short to medium-range weather forecasts to optimize irrigation water use. The second study extends this approach to utilize Extended Range Predictions (ERP) for planning irrigation water use weeks in advance. The third study addresses the lack of in-situ monitoring by combining soil moisture data from sensors and satellite observations to create a comprehensive picture of soil moisture conditions. All three studies emphasize the importance of co-developing these tools with farmers to ensure their usability and effectiveness.

About the Speaker

Prof. Subimal Ghosh is Institute Chair Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Convener of the Interdisciplinary Program in Climate Studies at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay with research interests in hydrology and hydro-climatology. He obtained PhD degree in 2007 from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Masters degree in 2004 from the same institute.

He is the conferred Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the recipient of the AGU D L Memorial Medal. The 2024 Alexander von Humboldt Medal is awarded to Subimal Ghosh for significant contributions in hydrometeorology, climate services, climate education and societal impacts related to the complex South Asian Summer Monsoon System. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences in 2019. Prof Ghosh’s most significant contribution is understanding land-atmosphere interaction in the complex South Asian Summer Monsoon System.

He led the development of India’s first integrated real time urban flood forecasting system, involving a consortium of 30 scientists from seven academic and research institutes. He also worked with the farmers of drought-prone Maharashtra, India developing technologies for sustainable irrigation management, and also developed adaptation strategies to cope with drought. These initiatives have been implemented in the Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth (ICRG) program of the Ministry of Rural Development by the Indian Government. To summarise, Prof. Ghosh has made significant all-round contributions, demonstrating his research potential and leadership in climate science in India.