Under the outreach program of IPY, "Popular Book Series" initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences & Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Geological Society of India, NCAOR has published a book on Antarctica for school children entitled Story of Antarctica. The book was released by His Excellency Sri N.D. Tiwari, Governor of Andhra Pradesh & Prof. Harsh Gupta, President, Geological Society of India on 25th June 2008 at National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. The book is being distributed freely to general public & school children.

(19/08/2008)

(01/07/2008)

(01/07/2008)

(01/07/2008)

ORV SAGAR KANYA SAILED FROM CHENNAI ON 21.6.2008 FOR MULTIBEAM SWATH BATHYMETRIC SURVEY IN BAY OF BENGAL WITH NCAOR / AMC PARTICIPANTS. THE VESSEL IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO CHENNAI IN THE SECOND WEEK OF JULY, 2008 AFTER THE SURVEYS. SEDIMENT AND WATER SAMPLINGS WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT IN SURVEY AREA.

CHIEF SCIENTIST: DR RAVI MISHRA, NCAOR

(23/06/2008)

ORV Sagar Kanya

ORV Sagar Kanya underwent drydock & multibeam repairs at Colombo during the month of April/May -08.Sailed from Colombo on 7.5.2008 to Mormugao  -  cruise No. SK-245 (Multibeam trial cruise) Arrived Mormugao on 12.5.2008 at 1200hrs.

Expected to sail for next cruise for NIO, Dona Paula, (Cruise No. SK-246) on 13.5.2008  

Objectives: Cruise Title for SK246: Servicing and maintenance of the three existing current meter moorings at 77E, 83E and 93E along the equator.

Aim: 1. Servicing (retrieval and redeployment) of three deep-sea current meter moorings along the equator.

        2. Deployment of 16 ARGO floats.

        3. If time permits Operation of 12 CTD stations (including 9 CTDS along 80.5E, from 2S to 2N).

        4. Collection of surface meteorological data along the track.

Loading of equipment is going on. We are making arrangement with the agent to board the vessel tomorrow morning.

(12/05/2008)

XXVII Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica Returned Back to Goa

The Winter Phase of Arctic Expedition Launched

The 27th Indian Antarctic Expedition Team On Board MV Emerald Sea Sets Sail for Home

XXVII Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica 

First Indian Arctic Expedition Related Activities  

 Foundation Day function of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New-Delhi on 27th July

Photos of XXXth ATCM Held At New Delhi

 National Workshop on “Assessment of research programmes of    XXVI   Indian Antarctic  Expedition  and  planning of  XXVII  IAE”

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.

(11/04/2008)

Navratana Signs MoU with NCAOR

The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa (NCAOR) and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) launched a joint collaborative scientific project on "Surface Geochemical Exploration and Paleoclimatic Stuides". In a function held at Hotel Radisson at Varca, Shri Rasik Ravindra, Director, NCAOR and Shri D.K. Pande, Director (Exploration), ONGC, Shri S.V. Rao, Executive Director, ONGC and Dr M. Sudhakar, Group Director, NCAOR shared the dais to preside over the  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ceremony on 23rd August, 2007 at 1100 hrs. The function was attended by the dignitaries from various institutions in Goa as well as the officers/scientists of NCAOR and ONGC. Dr B.N. Sharma, Dy.Gen.Manager, ONGC made a presentation on the significance of this initiative between NCAOR and ONGC and the scientific studies that ONGC intend to carryout for hydrocarbon signatures. Dr Rahul Mohan, Scientist, NCAOR briefed the gathering about the activities of NCAOR and the various facilities that would be offered for the joint initiative. This was followed by an address by Shri.D.K.Pande who elaborated the need for such joint collaborative work and its continuation on long term basis for the benefit of the country. He opined that this a small beginning and this needs to grow further in different spheres of offshores studies wherein the country can benefit in the filed of attaining self sufficiency in the oil sector as well as the knowledge base can be developed. Shri.Rasik Ravindra stressed that this was a milestone for NCAOR as it enters an arena of joint research with the Oil giant like ONGC. Sri.Ravindra was happy to note that such joint programmes can bring the two communities (ONGC and NCAOR) together. This was followed by the Signing of the MOU Document by Shri.D.K.Pande and Shri.Rasik Ravindra followed by exchange of momentos.This MOU marks a beginning of joint collaborative studies between the two giants in oil exploration and ocean/ polar research in the country who shall share their resources and scientific manpower for successful implementation of this collobarative scientific project. Under this MOU the first field studies are proposed in October, 2007 off Saurastra coast for assessing the hydrocarbon potential by surface geochemical exploration methods as well as the paleoclimatic reconstruction of the last 100,000 years by raising about 500 long sediments cores from the seabed using the services of ORV Sagar Kanya, a scientific research vessel belonging to the Ministry of Earth Sciences under the management of NCAOR is capable of taking up such sophisticated studies said Dr M. Sudhakar, Group Director in a press note.The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Suryanarayana, GM, ONGC. The event was covered by Doordarshan and other media.

24/08/2007

FOUNDATION DAY FUNCTION OF MoES

The Foundation Day function of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New-Delhi on 27th July, 2007. Various awards and certificates of merit were presented at the function. Mr. P. Chidambaram, chief guest of the function, presented the National Awards to two distinguished scientists, founder Director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Liquid Propulsions Systems Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation and former Secretary of the Department of Ocean Development, Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam and to the former Director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Dr. Sikka for Atmospheric Sciences and Technology.

 Two NCAOR scientists have received prestigious awards this year which were also presented by the Union Finance Minister, Mr. P.Chidambaram. Dr. Rahul Mohan, NCAOR, was awarded Certificate of Merit and a memento for his outstanding contribution in the field of Southern Ocean research. Shri.Sushant Suresh Naik, NCAOR, was awarded Certificate of Merit and memento for his outstanding contribution in the field of Ice Core research. Both the awards were presented under the category of Ocean Sciences and Technology. Other dignitaries on the dais were, Shri. Kapil Sibal, Hon’ Minister for Science & Tecnology and Earth Sciences, Dr. P.S. Goel, Secretatry, MoES, Dr. Ramasami and Prof. M. Ravindran, Ex-Director, NIOT.

29/07/2007

National Workshop

A two day National Workshop on “Assessment of research programmes of   XXVI   Indian  Antarctic  Expedition  and  planning of  XXVII  IAE” was organized by NCAOR, Goa during June 27-28, 2007 to identify the thrust areas and various scientific programmes of XXVII IAE in the contemporary fields of polar science and technology and to take stock of the contributions made during the recently concluded expedition (summer team of 26th IAE and winter team of 25th IAE). The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. V.P. Dimri, Director, National Geophysical Research Institute, in the august presence of many distinguished and eminent scientists who attended this workshop from different parts of the country. On this occasion the  book titled “ Scientific report of 20th Indian Expedition to Antarctica” edited by its leader Dr. Mervin D’Souza, from GSI, Antarctic Division, Faridabad.

29/06/2007

ORV SAGAR KANYA SAILED FROM CHENNAI ON 14TH APRIL 2007 FOR CRUISE SK-233  WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

Tsunami Buoys / Databuoys operations by NIOT. The cruise will be completed on 12.5.2007.

16/04/2007

VESSEL SAILED FROM MORMUGAO ON 04.04.2007 FOR CRUISE SK-232C WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

1.Core sampling for studying Geochemical implications of the gas present in the shallow sediment column and the delineation of erosional    boundry.

2. Testing of Heat-Flow-Probe.

3. Training / acclimatization to marine science students / researchers from universities.

Institutions: NCAOR, NIO, NGRI, Karnatak University & Goa University.

Chief Scientist: Dr. Kalachand Sain, NGRI, Hyderabad.

VESSEL IS EXPECTED TO REACH CHENNAI ON 12.4.2007.

05/04/2007

Launching Function of the Indian Chapter of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008

The launching of the Indian chapter of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 took place at National Centre For Antarctica & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Vasco-da-Gama, India on 1^st March 2007. A special function was organised at NCAOR tomark this occasion.

An overview of IPY and its significance was presented by Sri Rasik Ravindra, Director, National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa. He informed the audience about the need, goals & scope of IPY (2007-2008). The inaugral lecture was delivered by Prof. U. R. Rao, Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation. He elucidated about various postive & negative feedback affecting the global warming and gave insight in to the latest developments. Subsequently, another lecture by Dr. S. R. Shetye, Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa in which he informed the general public about need to manage our environment & illustrated that how various systems through various feedbacks will mitigate the affect of global warming. Later during the function, the “calendar of events” was released by Prof. U.R. Rao that will be undertaken through out 2007-2008. This calendar lists various projects and competions that will be held in various schools and the two winners will be sent to Antarctica, which was declared by Sri Rasik Ravindra, Director, NCAOR (Details are available on the NCAOR website, www.ncaor.gov.in). Lastly, Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. N. Khare, Scientist-E, National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa.

This event has been videographed for uploading at the IPY international website (www.ipy.org) for public reference across the world. This function was attended by eminent scientists from various institutes of the country and school children from diffrent school & colleges of Goa.

 The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic with stress on international collaboration comprising coordinated, interdisciplinary observations and research. IPY, organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is actually the fourth polar year, following those in 1882-3, 1932-3, and 1957-8. The official period of the current IPY will be from 1^st March 2007 to 1^st March 2009 in order to allow observation during all seasons, and the possibility of two summer field seasons in each polar region. The purpose of IPY is to explore new scientific frontiers, to deepen our understanding of the polar processes and their global linkages, to increase our ability to detect environmental & societal changes, to further involve the Arctic residents with research activities, and to attract & develop the next generation of polar scientists, engineers & logistics experts. IPY will involve over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate to, and involve the general public, especially school children & college students, with cutting edge science in real-time.

            Parallely, in New Delhi, following programs were carried out at Jawaharlal Nehru National University (JNU) that were coordinated by WWF-India (World Wlidlife Fund for Nature). An overview & significance of IPY by Dr. Ajai Saxena, Director, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi was presented followed by lecture by DR. S.L. Jain, Emeritus Scientist, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. Later on vote of Thanks proposed by Dr. Swaymprabha, WWF-India.

Various outreach activities that have been planned to involve general public, especially school children, have been posted on the website of NCAOR (www.ncaor.gov.in).

International Polar Year (2007-2008) Calendar of events -for outreach to general public

01/03/2007

LAUNCHING OF THE XXVI INDIAN SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA

The third and final batch of the XXVI Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica was launched from Mormugao Harbour, Goa on 10th January, 2007. The Expedition consists of 34 members from different Organisations and Universities in India and lead by Mr. Jayapaul D., Director, Geological Survey of India, Antarctic Division, Faridabad. The Expedition team will carry out different scientific activities at Maitri, India’s permanent station in Antarctica and at Larsemann Hills, India’s new proposed station site. The winter component of the team consists of 10 members in the present batch. They will stay back at Maitri and the summer component will come back to India by March/April 2007.The members arrived at Goa on 31st December, 2006 for the final briefings before proceeding to Antarctica. The members attended fire fighting and prevention training and different briefing lectures on medical, physiological aspects and scientific mandates organized by NCAOR. The members embarked the vessel M.V. Emerald Sea, chartered by NCAOR for the Antarctic Expedition on 9th January, 2007. Soon after completion of cargo/scientific equipments loading, the vessel sailed to Port Louis, Mauritius en-route to Antarctica on 10th January, 2007 / 20:00 hrs. The Director and other senior officials of NCAOR were present at Mormugao Harbour to flag-off the vessel and to wish Bon voyage to the departing team.

12/01/2007

Sagar Kanya Sailing From Kochi on 12.01.2007 To Mumbai, Arrival Mumbai -15.01.2007. 11/01/2007

Dr. Manish Tiwari was presented the Young Scientist Award in the Environmental Sciences section of the 94th Indian Science Congress Association for his studies regarding variations in the intensity of Indian monsoon on millennial timescale. In particular he has been able to resolve the controversy surrounding the intensity of southwest monsoon during the Holocene (past 10,000 years)  through multi-proxy study on AMS radiocarbon dated sediment cores from the western Arabian Sea

10/01/2007

04/01/2007

29/12/2006

Indian Abstracts at SCAR Open Science Conference, 12-14 July, 2006, Hobart,  Australia

XXIX SCAR/COMNAP XVII 2006, Hobart, Australia

ORV Sagar Kanya Cruise SK-230.
 

ORV Sagar Kanya sailed from Chennai on 7.12.2006 early hours for establishing a new Tsunami Buoy and for replacing existing three Tsunami Buoys in Bay of Bengal. The task is being carried out by NIOT, Chennai.

(08/12/2006)

News from Maitri

Progress Report of the first batch of XXVI ISEA

ORV SAGAR KANYA CRUISE SK-229B STATUS

ORV SAGAR KANYA CRUISE SK-229B:- Sailed from New Mangalore Port on 19.10.2006 for trials of newly developed Soil Tester by NIOT, Chennai. The trials will be taken up in phases of varying depths and upto around 6000 m in Central Indian Ocen Basin (CIOB). The vessel is expected to return to New Mangalore on 10.11.2006. Chief Scientist: Dr. M.A. Atmanand, NIOT, Chennai

(23/10/2006)

(02/10/2006)

Polar Science and Antarctic Expeditions: 

§     The meeting of National Coordination Committee for Antarctic Programme was convened on 4^th August 06 at MoES.  The Scientific/ logistics objectives and the leader of XXVI IAE was filnalised in this meeting.  

§    The Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) meeting for finalization of Helicopters for the XXVI IAE was held on 8^th, 11^th and 28^th August 06.

§    After customs clearance the backloaded cargo of the XXIV (winter team) and XXV (summer team) expeditions were brought to NCAOR campus on 25^th August 2006.

§    Winter team members of XXVI ISEA approved by NCAP were examined for their medical fitness by the medical board constituted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi between the 28^th and 30^th August 06.

(01/09/2006)

EEZ Programme: 

§        Undertaken sampling cruise in Andaman & Nicobar Region onboard R/V Akademic Boris Petrov under this programme. 

Legal Continental Shelf Programme: 

§    A meeting under the chairmanship of the Secretary, MoES was convened at NCAOR on the 21^st August 2006 to deliberate on the various legal and technical issues relevant to India’s submission for an extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (M) under the provisions of UNCLOS 1983.

§    Finalisation of the draft submission for an extended continental shelf is in progress, incorporating the suggestions provided/decisions taken at the technical meeting held at MoES on the 14^th June 2006 as well as the meeting held at NCAOR on the 21^st August 2006.

(01/09/2006)

MISCELLENEOUS 

§        The Director NCAOR attended the following meetings during the month:

• On the 3^rd August 2006 a meeting to was convened at MoES, New Delhi to discuss the Design for the New Station.

• National Coordination Committee for Antarctic Programme was convened on 4^th August 06 at MoES, New Delhi.

• A meeting to deliberate on the various legal and technical issues relevant to India’s submission for an extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (M) under the provisions of UNCLOS 1983 was convened on the 21^st August 2006 at NCAOR.

• A review meeting of the project Palaeocenographic studies of the Bay of Bengal Fan sediments (BENFAN) was convened at NIO on the 28^th August 2006. 

§        SCIENCE FORUM:   the following lectures were delivered at the centre during the month:

• ATCM - by Dr. N. Khare and Shri Anup Tiwari

• Delineation of Oceanic fronts based on results from expeditions to Southern Ocean by Dr. N. Anil Kumar

§    STAFF WELFARE CLUB:  The NCAOR Staff welfare club was reconstituted with Shri T. V. P. Bhaskara Rao as the president. 

§    INDEPENDENCE DAY:  was celebrated at NCAOR on the morning of 15^th August 2006.  The meritorious awards were presented to the children of the employees on the occasion by the staff welfare club.

(01/09/2006)

Congratulations to Dr. Sudhakar on being elected as member of UN's Legal & Technical Commission, ISA.

(24/08/2006)

(02/08/2006)

(28/07/2006)