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The Earth behaves as a single, interlinked and self-regulating system. Its components, viz. atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, geosphere and biosphere, function together and their interactions are complex and significant. The earth system science is a science of national importance. The scientific understanding of the earth system helps to improve
prediction of climate, weather and natural hazards as well as explore polar regions and sea bed and afford sustainable use of resources. The agenda for the earth system science in the country includes to promote discovery to provide new perspective on earth systems, better understanding of earth processes and apply this knowledge for sustainability of the Earth and develop services for the societal benefits. The major goals for developing major services are:
i) Improving forecast for weather including monsoon.
ii) Providing an early warning of natural hazards.
iii) Providing ocean information for safe navigation and fisheries.
iv) Understanding of polar science and it's implication for climate change.
v) Exploration of ocean mineral resources and development of technology.
vi) Protection of shore and conservation of coastal ecosystem.
vii) Projection of climate change and developing climate services.
Weather Services: Currently, atmospheric observations such as maximum and minimum air temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, rainfall, cloud cover, etc. are available through radars, automatic weather stations, automatic rain gauges, etc. and satellite and aircraft based platforms. An end- to- end forecasting system that includes acquisition of atmospheric data, processing of data, their use in numerical models, and forecasting weather has been installed. A five day weather forecast along with crop-specific advisories for carrying out agricultural practices is being provided to 5 million farmers. The impact of this service on GDP is ₹ 50,000 crores. Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) is provided for flood forecasting. Air quality forecast for Delhi and Pune is routinely issued. Customised forecast for expeditions, adventure sports, pilgrimage, etc. is generated. Aviation services are provided for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai as well as other 70 airports in the country.
The variability of monsoon is quite complex both spatially and temporally. Seasonal forecast for monsoon rainfall is provided with fairly good accuracy. The predictability of active and break cycles has been improved. Monsoon mission has been launched to further improve, short-term, medium-range, extended range and seasonal scale prediction of rainfall. A cloud physics lab in Mahabaleshwar has been set up to observe clouds through out the season and to develop microphysical parameterization scheme for numerical weather prediction models.
Severe weather such as dust storms, extremely havy rainfall, cloud burst, fog, Nor'westers, etc. affect different parts of the country regularly. Efforts have been initiated
to develop forecasting system for such extreme weather events.
Disaster Support: A state-of-the-art tsunami warning system was set up in October 2007. The system is capable of providing advisories about travel time, and run up height at 1800 coastal forecast points within 10 minutes to all concerned within India and the Indian Ocean Rim countries. The cyclone track and land fall prediction before 24 hours has been improved to 140 and 80 km. The prediction of associated storm surge is provided to assess the area likely to be inundated. The vulnerability maps have been prepared for the Indian coast on 1:100,000 scale.
Earthquake is one of the hazard which is still not understood. A adequate network of seismometers, accelerometers, and GPS has been built for monitoring earthquakes, studying crustal dynamics, seismological research, active fault monitoring, etc.. The location, magnitude and depth of an earthquake are provided within 10 minutes. The relationship between earthquake pre-cursors and earth generation processes is explored through long-term, multi-parametric observations. Preparatory activities have been initiated to undertake suite of observations in a borehole in the Koyna region to study the stress regime, pore fluid pressure and it's variations, heat flow and it's variation, orientation of faults, study of chemical properties, etc.
Ocean Information Services: Ocean observations, viz. temperature and salinity profiles, currents as well as marine meteorology parameters, are accomplished through moored and drifting buoys, HF radars, current meter moorings, automatic weather stations on ships, autonomous vehicles, remotely operable vehicles, etc. All the data related to ocean have been organized and can be accessed through web. Potential fishing zone and sea conditions are provided daily to fishermen. This has helped fishermen to reduce the time for search and saving in fuel cost. The benefit to GDP is ₹ 34,000 crores. Ocean parameters such as sea surface temperature, currents, mixed layer depth, waves, tides, etc. which essentially defines the state of the ocean are very critical for safe navigation, resource assessment, etc. as well as for forcing atmospheric models. Ocean General Circulation Model, Regional Ocean Modelling System are being used to provide this information.
Ocean Survey and Deep Sea Technology: The basic survey of of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for mineral resources, exploration for polymettalic nodules, gas hydrates, hydrothermal sulphides, etc, have been undertaken. Hydrothermal circulation of hot sea water at Mid-Oceanic Ridges penetrates deep into the oceanic crust, mediating substantial chemical exchange with basalts. It is necessary to model the thermodynamic environment and evolution of hydrothermal vent systems to model ore distribution of precious and strategic metal content of hydrothermal sulphides. 60000 line km survey has been completed towards initial investigations.
The development of technology for autonomous vehicles, remotely operable vehicles, mining equipments, drilling equipments, testing equipment for harnessing these resources is under development. Remotely Operable Vehicle and Soil Tester has been develop to assess environment sea bed properties at 6000 m for mineral exploration. Both the equipment have been successfully tested in the Central Indian Ocean. Low temperature thermal desalination plants have been commissioned in the Lakshadweep Islands to provide fresh water from sea. These plants provide 100,000 lpd for drinking purpose. The operating cost of these plants is about 19 paise per litre.
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems: Marine and coastal ecosystems are most productive areas. Physical, chemical and biological data are collected to understand seasonal and inter annual variability, sensitivity to global change and model ecosystems in terms of productivity to assess their health. Coral reef maps for all regions have been prepared on 1:25,000 scale. Coral health bulletins are issued bi-weekly. An atlas on the environment and productivity pattern of the Indian EEZ has been prepared. Harmful algal blooms are being monitored. Marine pollution is monitored along 21 locations to assess health of seas around the Indian coast. Open cage culture and ornamental fishery have been developed for augmenting livelihood of Island communities.
Polar science and Cryosphere: Changes in snow and ice can impact global climate through changing albedo, thawing of permafrost and attendant release of greenhouse gases, changes in sea level, etc. Hence investigations are carried out in the Arctic, Antarctica including the Southern Ocean and Himalayas. The major focus is to answer questions related to climate pattern of last few thousand years, ice dynamics and modelling, and mass balance of glaciers and ice sheets.
Climate Change Research: The increasing trend of temperature in recent decades has focused our attention to the changing climate. It requires comprehensive assessment of various interactions among different earth system components. We had strengthen and continue to basic research in earth systems and building earth system model to address science questions on attribution and projection of regional climate change, generate input to assess impacts on water resources, agriculture, health, etc. and establish framework of climate services.
The following programs are planned to be implemented shortly.
Himalayan Meteorology: The Himalaya is one of the area which is scarcely observed region. This will be a focused to improve observations, both meteorological as well as snow and ice related, in the region including on glaciers and snow-clad regions. The capabilities for nowcasting for expeditions, pilgrimage, tourism, etc. also to be developed.
Origin of Monsoon and Evolution of Himalayas: The Himalaya and Tibet represent the most dramatic examples of mountain building in the recent geological past and has greatly influence atmosphere and climate. The deep drilling in the sedimentary archives of the Arabian Sea expected to yield fundamental information on the history of uplift, erosion, deposition and monsoonal history, etc.
Water Cycle: Water is one of the most vital element for our sustenance on this planet. It is important to understand changing water cycle from the perspective of water cycle drivers, surface and subsurface water interactions and water cycle- human interaction. The question is how to respond to changing water cycle? We need to build insight into changing water cycle.
Microbial Oceanography: The role played by microorganisms in biogeochemical dynamics of marine ecosystems needs to be understood. Microbial oceanography will help to study linkages between biological processes and biogeochemical cycles. We need to deploy in situ ocean monitoring system.
Geoid Anomaly: Geoid is an equipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field that best fits the global mean sea level in a least squared sense. The largest geoid low is centered around south of India. There is no unanimity about causes of such low. Detailed seismological observations are proposed to understand genesis of such deep seated earth structure. |