Panaji, Aug 29 (PTI) Automatic weather stations (AWS) have been set up in five wildlife sanctuaries in Goa to study and ascertain the impact of climate change on biodiversity of the Western Ghats forest, state minister Vishwajit Rane has said.

Forest Minister Rane on Monday inaugurated these AWS, one each set up in Mhadei, Mollem, Bondla, Netravali and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuaries, during a function held at Valpoi in Sattari taluka of North Goa.

Also Read | West Bengal Firecracker Factory Blast: Son and Brother of Terror Accused Isha Khan Among Nine Killed in Illegal Firecracker Warehouse Explosion.

“Goa is the first state in the country to place such an elaborate modern AWS for scientific management of forest and to study and ascertain impact of climate change on Biodiversity of Western Ghats Forest,” he said in a post on X.

The weather stations have been installed with the technical support of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Rane said.

Also Read | ‘INDIA vs NDA’ As Both Alliances To Hold Parallel High Level Meetings on September 1 in Mumbai.

“These stations will record atmospheric data including - Air Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Humidity, Wind Speed and Direction, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature and Rainfall on real time basis at 15 minute interval and transmit to a web portal with the help of a satellite,” he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)