India to undertake maiden scientific mission to North Pole

New Delhi, Mar 03: India will soon undertake its maiden scientific mission to the North Pole to study the phenomenon of climate change, giving the country's 25-year-old polar science programme a bipolar perspective.

Scientists from the Goa-based National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Research Institute, will kickstart their long term research programme in the Arctic region.

"We have proposed to send the first team of Indian scientists to the Arctic region this year," Minister for Earth Science Kapil Sibal said here.

Indian scientists are keen to work in arctic in the fields of atmospheric sciences, space weather, glaciology including sea ice and marine sciences.

Under the arctic research programme, Indian scientists are expected to carry out research in the Svalbard region, where Norway has an international research facility.

The Arctic expedition received a shot in the arm as a token provision of Rs one crore was made available in the next financial year.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has firmed up plans to carry out extensive research in the Arctic region over the next five years and has also sought funds for the purpose in the 11th plan.

Indian scientists have been carrying out research in the Antarctica region for the last 25 years. India has two research stations on the icy continent -- Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri -- and is at an advanced stage of finalising plans for a third research facility in the Larsemann hills region.

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