Cyclone man: DG IMD Dr. Mohapatra makes India proud, elected as WMO VP
Hailing from Odisha, Mohapatra is known as "cyclone man" because of his accurate forecasts.
By Anoushka Caroline Williams Published on 2 Jun 2023 7:16 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Director General (DG) of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was elected vice president of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
He will be one of three VPs elected by the UN body that keeps track of climate change and issues alerts for impending disasters.
Hailing from Odisha, Mohapatra is known as "cyclone man" because of his accurate forecasts. He has discharging his duties as DG IMD since 2019.
Dr. Mohapatra secured 113 votes out of the total 148.
“Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director of @Indiametdept has been elected Third Vice-President of WMO at #MeteoWorld. We congratulate all the new office holders,” WMO tweeted
IMD congratulated Mohapatra for the new role as well.
“Congratulations Team India !!! Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, DG IMD has won the election to the post of Third Vice President of WMO. A resounding Victory (113 out of 148 votes). @IndraManiPR @BarkhaTamrakar @moesgoi,” tweeted IMD.
“Dr. M. Mohapatra got elected as Vice President of WMO for the period 2023-27. A resounding victory. Congratulations to India, MoES and India Meteorological Department, and Dr. M. Mohapatra, DG, IMD” said Naga Ratna Kopparthi, Head of the Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad.
“A Hearty congratulations to Dr. Mohapatra. It is a proud moment for all countrymen” said Rupeshkumar Thakur, GM of Airside Planning and Capacity Enhancement.
About Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was born in Rajagurupur, Orissa on August 12, 1965,
He completed his B.Sc in physics from Utkal University, Bhadrak in 1985. In 1987, Utkal University in Bhubaneswar awarded him M.Sc in Physics. He then went on to achieve Ph.D. in physics from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in 2007.
From 1988 to 1990, Dr. Mohapatra worked as a junior science assistant at the Defence Research and Development Organisation. From 1990 to 1992, he worked as a physics lecturer at D. K. College in India.
Later he joined India Meteorological Department as a Meteorologist Grade II Trainee in 1992. He was promoted to Meteorologist Grade II office in 1993. He served at this position till 1998. From 1998 to 2004, he served as Meteorologist Grade I. In 2004, he was made Director from 2004.
He held the positions of National Editor for the Meteorological Organisation, Expert at the International Oceanographic Commission, and Cyclone Expert.
Marquis Who's Who has Mrutyunjay Mohapatra listed as a notable meteorologist.
His accomplishments include study in urban meteorology, cyclones, and the monsoon.
He is the recipient of the World Meteorological Organization's appreciation award and the Government of India's Commendation Award. He has also been awarded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Other Major Appointments at WMO
Abdulla Al Mandous, the director of the United Arab Emirates National Centre of Meteorology, was chosen WMO President for a four-year term during the WMO elections conducted on Thursday in Geneva.
Other VPs elected include Eoin Moran, director of Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service, and Daouda Konate, head of meteorology for Cote d'Ivoire.
World Meteorological Congress and the Executive Council are presided over by the WMO's President and three vice presidents. Secretary-General is in charge of the Secretariat, which has its headquarters in Geneva.
The first female Secretary-General of the WMO is Prof. Celeste Saulo of Argentina.
What is WMO?
The World Meteorological Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics.
'Early Warnings For All' was also formally acknowledged as the WMO's top priority.
World Meteorological Organisation recently issued 'Early Warnings For All' annual report, which emphasized the main worries about rising global temperatures and the potential for El Nio.
With the election of Mohapatra, India may have a say in how early warning systems and natural catastrophes are handled internationally.
