Anna Mani: Pioneer of Indian Meteorology and Renewable Energy Research

Context

A new biographical work highlights the legacy of Anna Mani

About Anna Mani

• She was a physicist who worked under Sir C.V. Raman at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, where she conducted research on the optical properties of diamonds and rubies.
• In 1948, she joined the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune. This was a critical period as India was striving for scientific independence post-1947.
• Known as the “Weather Woman of India,” she rose to become the Deputy Director General of the IMD.
• Key Contributions
  • Instrument Standardisation: Before Mani, India relied heavily on imported weather instruments. She established a workshop in Pune that designed, manufactured, and standardized over 100 types of meteorological instruments (including rain gauges, thermometers, and anemometers).
  • Ozone Research: She was a pioneer in atmospheric ozone research. She designed the Ozonesonde, an instrument used to measure the vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere, crucial for understanding the ozone layer.
  • Solar Radiation: She set up a network of stations across India to measure solar radiation, which provided the foundational data for India’s modern Solar Energy sector.
  • Wind Energy: She conducted extensive wind speed surveys, laying the groundwork for the development of Wind Energy in India decades before it became a mainstream focus.

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