Imagine a powerful cyclone about to hit the coast at a wind speed of 155 km per hour (100mph). Imagine the havoc it can wreck in the area and the threat it poses to fishermen out in the sea. The scenario is grim and there is little time to salvage and rescue life and property. But, Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Oceansat II satellite promises to predict disaster before hand. Equipped with scatterometer, radio occultation sounder, ocean colour monitor and such other equipment, the satellite will predict cyclones two to three days in advance. It will also predict the intensity and the locations it will hit. Read More