Kannur: Warning trends in temperature variation have been observed in the Antarctica during the last three decades, Dr Thamban Meloth, scientist and programme director at the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, has said. Thamban, who has been leading the cryospheric science research team of India in the Antarctic since 2002 and who was part of the team which set up the first lab of NCAOR there, said that the Westerly wind from Patagonian desert in South America had been bringing dust and pollutant substances to the Antarctic, which caused significant climatic variation in the recent decades.
"An increase of .4 degree Celsius per decade, which is quite significant in the case of Antarctica has been noticed since the 1980s," he said on the sidelines of a send-off programme arranged at Madayippara near Pazhayangadi on Saturday to V S Anilkumar, the outgoing Dean of Students Services, Kannur University.
"The Indian cryospheric science (study of snow and ice) team usually drilled ice up to 200 m in depth and studied 2,000 years' climatic variations in the Antarctic. However, some western countries, in collaboration, drilled up to 3,000 m of depth and studied about millions of years' temperature variation," he said. The substances collected from Antarctica by the Indian team would be brought to the ice core lab in Goa for further studies. Special ice-class vessels were used for transportation to and from Antarctica.
\The scientist further said that several countries set up research stations in Antarctica according to their financial positions. "India has three stations while Pakistan has none. Once the Soviet Union had the largest number of centres and now with the economic boom China has also set up several stations. India has three stations - Dakshin Gangotri, set up in 1983, Maitri, opened in 1989 and Bharathi, in 2012. Dakshin Gangotri was closed down later as it was immersed in snow," he said. Bharati was the most advanced automated centre which was set up ensuring maximum safety.
"An increase of .4 degree Celsius per decade, which is quite significant in the case of Antarctica has been noticed since the 1980s," he said on the sidelines of a send-off programme arranged at Madayippara near Pazhayangadi on Saturday to V S Anilkumar, the outgoing Dean of Students Services, Kannur University.
"The Indian cryospheric science (study of snow and ice) team usually drilled ice up to 200 m in depth and studied 2,000 years' climatic variations in the Antarctic. However, some western countries, in collaboration, drilled up to 3,000 m of depth and studied about millions of years' temperature variation," he said. The substances collected from Antarctica by the Indian team would be brought to the ice core lab in Goa for further studies. Special ice-class vessels were used for transportation to and from Antarctica.
 |
| Dr Thamban Meloth |
Thamban also shared the risks involved in the research activities in Antarctica. As the depth of cracks between ice layers could not be predicted, even snowmobiles could get trapped in deep canyons. "Sometimes a pool of slush might develop in the depths and the vehicles will get frozen there and cannot be lifted," he said. Specialized polar clothing which could resist up to -50 degree temperature was used by researchers, he said. The research operations were mainly carried out during summer, i.e. from December to February, during which round-the-clock daylight was available, he said. Specially designed flights can land there during summer alone.
The young scientist became quite eloquent and a bit sentimental when talked about the friendship evolving among citizens of various countries in Antarctica. "A unique kind of bond would develop among researchers of various countries in Antarctica as the people living in extreme conditions. Once you meet the friendship will last life-long," he said. Thamban added that even language would not be a deterrent factor in helping each other during perilous situations. He also shared some curious information about Antarctica which might seem contrasting with the notions of the common man. He said that fire was a recurring phenomenon there and remembered the incident wherein a station of Argentina and Russia were completely burnt in fire once. "Since humidity is very less and heavy wind blowing all the time, things may catch fire easily. India's latest station Bharati was built by taking maximum care to resist fire," he said.
The stations would be of modular type, built of containers and covered with polyurethane foam panel to resist cold. Further, Thamban said, large quantities of ice when melted would provide only less quantity of water.
The young scientist became quite eloquent and a bit sentimental when talked about the friendship evolving among citizens of various countries in Antarctica. "A unique kind of bond would develop among researchers of various countries in Antarctica as the people living in extreme conditions. Once you meet the friendship will last life-long," he said. Thamban added that even language would not be a deterrent factor in helping each other during perilous situations. He also shared some curious information about Antarctica which might seem contrasting with the notions of the common man. He said that fire was a recurring phenomenon there and remembered the incident wherein a station of Argentina and Russia were completely burnt in fire once. "Since humidity is very less and heavy wind blowing all the time, things may catch fire easily. India's latest station Bharati was built by taking maximum care to resist fire," he said.
The stations would be of modular type, built of containers and covered with polyurethane foam panel to resist cold. Further, Thamban said, large quantities of ice when melted would provide only less quantity of water.
During the drilling works, we have to cook food at the site. Then we melt ice to get water. One basket-full of ice will give you only a glass of water, he said.
Every nation takes at most care to maintain maximum hygiene and would not leave any waste in Antarctica. "Even human waste will be burnt and ash will be carried to respective nations, he added.
The New Indian Express May 25
No comments:
Post a Comment