India launches 41st scientific mission to Antarctica
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On 16 November India launched its 41st scientific expedition (mission) to Antarctica.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences said that the first batch of 23 scientists and support staff reached the Indian Antarctic station Maitri last week. Four more groups will go to Antarctica by Mid-January 2022. They will be using the ship MV Vasiliy Golovnin. This is an ice-breaking cargo vessel operated by Russia’s Far East Shipping Company (FESCO).
The 41st scientific mission has two major programmes. The first program is the geological exploration of the Amery ice shelf at Bharati station. Through this, scientists plan to learn more about the link between India and Antarctica in the past.
The second programme will be studying the ice core near Maitri station. Scientists plan to drill the ice core to help understand the past climate of Antarctica. This is a joint mission to be done with the British Antarctic Survey and the Norwegian Polar Institute.
India’s scientific mission to Antarctica
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa (a government institute) manages India’s Antarctica missions. Starting in 1981, India has completed 40 scientific expeditions to Antarctica till now.
How many permanent Indian research stations are there in Antarctica?
India has built three permanent research stations there. They are DakshinGangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012). However today, only Maitri and Bharati are still working.
The voyage (journey) leader of the 41st mission is Dr Shailendra Saini from NCPOR. Then, Huidrom Nageshwar Singh, from the India Metrological Department (IMD) is the leader of the Maitri Station. Anoop Kalayil Soman from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism is the leader of the Bharati Station.
A part of the 41st mission will return in March or April 2022. But 48 people will remain as winter will begin at that time.
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