Mission Antarctica

A scientist from the NCAOR working in Antarctica. - BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

ANTARCTICA has always been a place of curiosity. It comprises around 10 per cent of the total land area of the earth, that is, nearly 14 million square kilometres. Systematically explored for the first time by the Englishman James Cook between 1772 and 1775, Antarctica at present houses a host of research stations set up by many countries.

The Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, established the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) on May 25, 1998, to carry forward the Indian Antarctic Mission. Its mandate was "to plan, promote, coordinate and execute the entire gamut of polar science and logistic activities of the country in order to ensure a perceptible and influential presence of India in Antarctica and uphold our interest in the global framework of nations in the southern continent and the surrounding areas".

The NCAOR, situated in the windswept hills of Headland Sada, Vasco-da-Gama, in a picturesque setting overlooking the Arabian Sea, is the first institution in the subcontinent engaged in southern ocean studies and polar sciences. It is the nodal institution responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of the entire scientific and logistical matters of the expedition. The institute has been maintaining Maitri, the Indian permanent station in Antarctica, established in 1988-89 after the first station, Dakshin Gangotri, was shut down. Some areas of interest to the NCAOR are: encouraging cooperative research; in-house research and development in front-ranking areas of contemporary research; coordinating, addressing and monitoring all environmental issues; developing a complete database; and oceanographic research vessel operation and services.

The Founder-Director of the NCAOR, Dr. P.C. Pande, proudly said that 70 institutes all over the country are associated with the Antarctica research programme, which has successfully conducted 23 expeditions so far. Pande said that Antarctica is the best place to understand the past climate, as it has preserved everything, and is also the best place to predict the future of the earth's climate. He said research in this "information treasure house", being carried out by many countries, attained significance following the increased melting of global ice sheets, the resultant sea level rise, and its impact on the world's population. Antarctica is also a special place that has sunlight for six months and darkness for the rest of the year. It is the best place for astronomical observation as there is no dust formation in the sky.

Indian scientists have drilled several ice cores near Maitri, brought them to Goa by special refrigerated containers maintained at -20oC, and transferred and archived them in the innovative and specially maintained cold rooms at subzero (-20oC) temperatures at the National Ice Core Laboratory, the Director said. The facility provides an excellent opportunity for scientists to explore the hidden knowledge in polar ice, sitting in special laboratories at the centre. Scientists believe that such vital information on Antarctic ice will enable them to understand the global warming phenomenon and its larger implications on the health of the humankind.