The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Delhi, has developed lien acoustic sounder to facilitate remote sensing facility for measuring meteorological data and forecast pollution dispersion patterns. A series of experiments regarding this were carried out from 1992 to 1994. Also termed 'sodar' (sound and detection ranging), the sounder has been developed by H M Dutta, senior scientist, NPL. Dutta states the experiments were carried out in Antarctica as the 7th continent was the perfect testing ground, "where localised interference is the least, and signatures most authentic.

Also, any project that is successful in Antartica, is in itself a certification of fitness."

-With a defined map of atmospheric conditions at different times and seasons given by the soclar, the direction that pollutants might take, and the specific fall-out region in the eventuality of a disaster may be assessed.

The technology had been transferred to a Jabalpur-based company, Orbit Bio-tech Innovations Pvt Ltd, sometime in 1994, and the equipment is being made by the Delhi-based Envirotech Instruments Pvt Ltd. The possible users Include pollution control boards, those preparing environmental impact assessment reports, research institutes and nuclear thermal power instalations.