Thiruvananthapuram: India is expected to launch the INSAT 3D satellite later this year to boost its weather forecasting accuracy, Shailesh Naik, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said here on Tuesday.

"The country will achieve more accuracy level within a few years in short-term and long-term weather forecasts," Naik said while delivering a lecture on 'Weather, Climate and Environment' at the ongoing 97th Indian Science Congress.

He said, "The country has now 77 percent accuracy level in short-term weather forecast, which will improve further with the launching of INSAT 3D this year and the OCEANSAT II in 2012."

INSAT-3D is a pure meteorological satellite without additional communication payload as in the other INSAT satellites. It features a 19-channel sounder, a 6-channel imager and two other meteorology related payloads.

Naik said by the end of 2010, 650 districts will be covered under weather forecast as against 470 districts at present.

The secretary also hinted that a training school would be set up to train at least 30-40 people in climate studies as this area was lacking experts. Massive investment was needed in areas like climate studies to provide better climate prediction for decision makers. IANS