South-West monsoon onset forecast by analysis of satellite images using objective dialectical classifier

Arrival of the South-West monsoon in Sri Lankan region is an abrupt phenomenon and with this annual climatological event, many meteorological parameters such as rainfall, wind, pressure etc. would remarkably change. Therefore, determination of the SW monsoon onset is socio economically significant as it influences agriculture and hydropower generation. With the advent of satellite imagery, pattern recognition techniques have been implemented favorably for forecasting the SW Monsoon onset. This study explains a methodology based on the Objective Dialectical Classifier to determine the onset dates utilizing only the clouds images. Results obtained in this research match well with the onset dates determined by the regional authorities.