Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica Returns Back to Goa
The 27th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica returns back on 11th April 2008. This expedition was launched from Marmugao Port Trust on 6th December 2007, onboard “MV Emerald Sea” of M/S Elmira Shipping and Trading, Greece under the overall coordination and supervision of the National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa.
The team is composed of institutes represented by Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Geological Survey of India, National Geophysical Research Institute, National Physical Laboratory, Survey of India, Centre for Space Physics, Zoological Survey of India, India Meteorological Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Indian Navy, Naval Hydrographic Office, Border Road Organisation, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Defence Electronics Application Laboratory, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Universities of Awadh, Barkatullah, Shanti Niketan etc.
This expedition undertook specific scientific tasks at Larsemann Hills region, the site of the proposed new Indian research base as well as in central Dronning Maud Land where India has its permanent research base “Maitri” at Schirmacher Oasis region. To facilitate real time data transfer an Earth Station at Maitri has been installed. This would give direct access to the data on real time basis as also the scientific community would be able to stay connected with the happenings back home in India. India also plans to setup the Wind powered energy system, as this would be model for clean technology in pristine Antarctica.
Antarctica has a special significance in regulating the earth climate. It is imperative to protect the poles so as to have a sustainable development on the globe. India along with other developed or developing countries are active partner in Antarctic affair under the umbrellas of various international governing bodies like ATCM, COMNAP, SCALOP, SCAR etc.
