What is the purpose of India’s winter expedition to the Arctic?
India’s winter expedition aims to enable year-round scientific monitoring in the Arctic, which is crucial for understanding climate change, sea-ice and ocean circulation, ecosystem adaptations, and astrophysics.
Why is this expedition taking place during the winter?
Winter offers unique conditions for scientific study, such as polar nights and ice cover, which are important for understanding climatic changes and atmospheric phenomena in the Arctic.
What are the main research areas for the Indian scientists?
The scientists will focus on studying precipitation, climate change impacts on the Arctic winter, atmospheric lightning phenomena, and atmospheric aerosols’ influence on the polar climate.
How does winter research help understand global climate patterns?
Observations during winter help to understand challenges associated with climate change, which can affect global weather patterns, including tropical monsoons.
Why haven’t expeditions like this been conducted in the winter before?
Previously, automated observations continued in winter, but field experiments were not possible due to harsh conditions. This expedition addresses the lack of direct data collection during polar nights.
What is the Himadri research station?
Himadri is India’s research station in the International Arctic Research base at Svalbard, Norway, which facilitates various experimental labs and accommodates researchers.
Who are the Indian scientists involved in this mission?
Scientists from various institutes, including Raman Research Institute, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Indian Institute of Tropical Metrology, and Indian Institute of Technology, are part of the expedition.
What kind of challenges do the scientists face in the Arctic winter?
Challenges include adapting to polar nights, extremely low temperatures, and the potential threat from wildlife like polar bears during field campaigns.
How does the Arctic expedition compare to India’s activities in Antarctica?
India has more established operational facilities in Antarctica. The Arctic expedition is more focused on research with limited field experiments due to the unique challenges of the region.
What long-term goals does India have for its Arctic expeditions?
India plans to increase activities and collaborations with international institutes for comprehensive research that contributes to global understanding of the Arctic’s role in climatic systems.
