Visakhapatnam: The World Meteorological Day is celebrated with a chosen theme on March 23 every year to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organisation. The organisation keeps a constant watch on the weather and climate for a better life and future, said K. Ramachandra Rao, director, Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam.

As part of the World Meteorological Day-2017 celebrations, which carries a theme of “Understanding Clouds”, the Cyclone Warning Centre held an Open House Day here in Visakhapatnam on Thur-sday which had seen hundreds of students and other general public. They were precisely familiarised with the scientific developments and technological advances of the Cyclone Warning Centre.

The officials explained the students and other general public about various equipment including, thermometer, psychrometer, mercury barometer, etc. and how they operate various machinery at the Centre. Addressing the gathering, Mr Ramachandra Rao said that they conducted the Open House Day to create more awareness among public about their duties and responsibilities towards the society.

The Cyclone Warning Centre director said that the World Meteorological Day-2017 highlighted the enormous importance of clouds. “Clouds are central to weather observations and forecasts. They are one of the key uncertainties in the study of climate change. We need to better understand how clouds affect the climate and how a changing climate will affect clouds. Clouds play a critical role in the water cycle and shaping the global distribution of water resources,” said Mr Ramachandra Rao. K. Srikanth, a student from a private school in the city, informed that he learnt some of the practices of the Cyclone Warning Centre, who attended the Open House Day with his classmates on the occasion.