Hailstorms Prediction, Control and Damage Assessment

Each  year  damage  due  to  hailstorms  to  human  life,  property,  livestock  and  agriculture  is  appalling  in  nature.  Annually  on  an  average  about  >1000  farmers  in  India  commit  suicide  due  to  damage  to  their  crop  by  hailstorms.  Crop  insurance  agencies  also  face  arduous  task  of  risk  assessment  before  fixing  the  premium  in  different  regions  and  seasons.  Prediction,  control  and  damage  assessment  are,  therefore,  the  three  cardinal  elements  of  hailstorms  study.  This  book  is  intended  to  provide  the  readers  the  wholesome  view  of  hailstorms,  varying  from  cloud  physics  to  synoptic  scale  development  of  the  system.            This  book  is  divided  into  five  parts  which  deal  with  climatology,  physical  properties  of  hail  and  its  measurement,  prediction,  control  and  damage  assessment.  As  the  synoptic  and  topographical  conditions  widely  vary  across  the  Indian  subcontinent  hence  for  the  prediction  Indian  region  has  been  divided  into  four  parts  as  NE,  NW,  Central  India  and  South  India.  Separate  chapters  discuss  the  typical  features  of  hailstorms  formation  in  each  part.            In the second edition of the book Chapter I has been expanded to include global and regional climatology and Chapters II, III, IV, V, X and XI have been revised to include recent researches on convective clouds and hail. For ready reference of related meteorological definitions Appendix  B has been totally revised. Contents:1. Climatology of Hailstorm 2. Hailstones 3. Hail Sampling and Analysis 4. Convection and Thunderstorm Formation 5. Hail Growth and Hailstorm 6. Hailstorm over North-East India 7. Hailstorm over North West India 8. Hailstorm over Central India 9. Hailstorm over South Peninsular India 10. Hailstorm Modification and Control 11. Damage Due to Hail and Risk Cover. About the Author:Dr. P. Kumar was conferred Ph.D. (Mathematics) by Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1973 for his researches in Fluid Mechanics and Magneto hydrodynamics (MHD). As post-doctoral research fellow of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India he initiated innovative researches in artificial rain making through MHD.He was commissioned in Meteorological Branch of Indian Air Force; wherein he served for 22 years. His glorious IAF tenure included Operational Weather Forecasting at various regions of India. He carried out theoretical as well as applied researches and modelling in Mountain Waves at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He was also Senior Instructor, and guide to M.Phil and Ph.D in Meteorology at Air Administrative College, Coimbatore affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India. Presently he is recognized Ph.D. guide from Department of Mathematics and Department of Atmospheric and Space Sciences at Savitribai Phule University, Pune, India.