Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju launched India’s first winter arctic expedition here on Monday.
This first winter expedition consists of four scientists who will visit the Arctic region to conduct atmospheric observations during the night and conduct polar studies and changes in sea ice.
Now, India will have a year-round presence in Himadri, a local Arctic research station located in Svalbard, Norway, as well as in Antarctica, near the South Pole.
On this occasion, Rijiju said that it will be interesting to see how the first group of four researchers will perform there in the winter. “Because you’re going there for the first time,” he said.
Rijiju paid a two-day visit to Himadri in June this year.
“When I saw our Himadri station in the Arctic, I realized that we have potential and people trust us. People from the Norwegian Polar Institute have also shown great confidence in Indian scientists, they expect India to make a significant contribution to climate science,” he said.
“Our presence in the Arctic during the winter will be an added value in the whole process,” added the minister.
According to the government, operating Himadri for year-round observation will help more optimal and efficient use of the research station and address the knowledge gap and lack of data during winter polar nights, especially in atmospheric sciences, space physics and life sciences.
India’s vision behind launching the first winter Arctic expedition is to expand the country’s scientific activities to other critical and key regions of the Arctic.
It also established a network of observatories to study land-sea-atmosphere-cryosphere interactions and initiated ongoing scientific observations in the Arctic Ocean, particularly to understand sea ice loss and its effect on the monsoon. It is also our goal to do this.
India began its scientific efforts in the Arctic in 2007 when a team of five scientists visited the International Arctic Research Facilities in Ny-Alesund to initiate studies in the areas of Arctic microbiology, atmospheric sciences and geology. Following the success of this initial step, the Department launched a long-term program of regular scientific activities in the Arctic in the frontier areas of polar biology, glaciology and earth and atmospheric sciences.
To date, 57 scientists from 18 national institutions, organizations and universities have participated in the Indian Arctic Programme, which is coordinated and implemented by NCPOR on behalf of the Ministry.
The areas of interest of the Ny-Alesund Indian scientists are limited to some frontier areas of polar sciences with particular relevance to the Arctic, such as glaciology, atmospheric science, biology and climate change.
A comprehensive long-term scientific plan for the research activities of Indian scientists in the Arctic region has also been developed. To facilitate Indian activities, a station building was leased in Ny-Alesund to serve as India’s research base in the Arctic.
India is a member of the Ny-Alesund Science Managers Committee (NySMAC) – the supreme body responsible for coordinating and advising all member states on science projects in Ny-Alesund.
India also has observer status in the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) since 2011.
