Current Context: The Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric & Climate Centre was inaugurated on 25th March 2025 in Nathatop, Jammu & Kashmir to boost high-altitude climate research.

Key Facts:

• Location: Nathatop, Udhampur (Altitude: 2,250 m) – ideal for clean-air atmospheric studies.
• Led by: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), with Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Forest Department & Central University of Jammu (CUJ).
• Goal: Accurate weather forecasting, climate modelling, and aerosol-cloud interaction research.
• Project ICE-CRUNCH: Indian and Swiss Collaboration for Exploring Cloud Nucleating Characteristics.
• Global Link: Part of World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Programme.
• Capacity Building: Will train young scientists and students in atmospheric sciences.