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Context

• The Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.

 

Details

• About: Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) scheme comprises of the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program.
• Implementation: It is implemented through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

 

Achievements of PACER

Scientific Expedition to Antarctica

• Executed 39th& 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. 41st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is ongoing.

Indian Southern Ocean Expedition in Antarctica

• The 11th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition was executed successfully.
• Various atmospheric, geological, oceanographic and biological measurements were conducted in the Prydz Bay as well as across various fronts of the Southern Ocean.

Reconstruction of past Climate

• Ten sediment cores were collected from lakes to reconstruct the past climate associated with the ice-sheet dynamics.

Glaciological and geophysical measurements

• Various glaciological and geophysical measurements were carried out in coastal Dronning Maud Land (cDML) to understand the modern snow accumulation patterns around the ice rises and the remote contribution to the glaciochemical processes.

Study of Biogeochemical Process

• Field-based studies were conducted in the lakes of Larsemann hills, East Antarctica for understanding of biogeochemical process in supraglacial environments.

Establishment of atmospheric observatories

• Clear-air atmospheric observatories containing automatic weather stations, sensors to measure aerosol and greenhouse gas concentrations has been established at Maitri and Bharati stations.

Climate variability over Antarctica

• Analysis of ice cores were carried out to understand dissolved organic carbon pathways and long-term climate variability over Antarctica.

Arctic Expedition

• Twenty-three research projects related to glaciology, marine science, polar biology, and atmospheric science were successfully carried out during 2019-20 Arctic Expedition.
• IndARC mooring system along with Hydrophone system was successfully retrieved and deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.
• Studies were undertaken in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago to carry out biogeochemical and microbial research in the glacio-marine system.

Studies in Western Himalayas

• Glaciological field campaigns were carried out in Chandra basin of Lahaul-Spiti region of Western Himalaya.
• Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey were conducted.
• Snow, ice, meltwater, water and cryoconite samples were collected from various glaciers and lakes.
• Automatic Weather Station (AWS) systems were installed at Baralacha La, a high elevation site in the arid Spiti region to strengthen infrastructure across the Chandra basin.

 

Indian Antarctic Program

• The Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program under the control of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It was initiated in 1981with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica.
• The program gained global acceptance with India's signing of the Antarctic Treatyand subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983, superseded by the Maitri base from 1989.
• The newest base commissioned in 2012 is Bharati.
• Under the program, atmospheric, biological, earth, chemical, and medical sciences are studied by India.
• As of today, Maitri and Bharati are fully operational.
• The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa—an autonomous instituteunder the Ministry of Earth Sciences—manages the entire Indian Antarctic program.

 

The Antarctic Treaty

• The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve nations (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR).
• The Treaty now has 52 signatories. India became a member of this treaty in 1983.
• Headquarters:Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• The Treaty, applies to the area south of 60° South latitude.

 

India’s Arctic Program

• India has a significant stake in the Arctic.
• In 1920 India had signed the Svalbard Treaty in Paris.
• It is one of thirteen nations holding Observer status in the Arctic Council.
• India maintains that all human activity should be sustainable, responsible, transparent, and based on respect for international laws.
• In 2007, India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic.
• In 2008 Himadri - India's first permanent Arctic research station was set up. It is located at Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway. It is located at the International Arctic Research base, Ny-Ålesund. Himadri's functions include long term monitoring of the fjord (Kongsfjorden) dynamics, and atmospheric research. The primary goals include research on aerosol radiation, space weather, food-web dynamics, microbial communities, glaciers, sedimentology, and carbon recycling.
• In 2014 IndARC, India's first underwater moored observatory was launched in the Arctic region. It was deployed in 2014 at Kongsfjorden fjord, Svalbard, Norway which is midway between Norway and North Pole. Its research goal is to study the Arctic climate and its influence on the monsoon.
• In 2016, India's northernmost atmospheric laboratory in Gruvebadet, Ny Alesund, was launched in the Arctic region.  The laboratory is equipped with several instruments that can study clouds, precipitation, long-range pollutants, and other background atmospheric parameters.
• Until 2022, India has successfully conducted thirteen expeditions to the Arctic.

 

Arctic Council ·        The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. ·        The eight countries with sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic Circle constitute the members of the council: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. ·        Outside these, there are some observer states. ·        The 1996 Ottawa Declaration established the Arctic Council as a forum for promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on issues such as sustainable development and environmental protection. ·        Observer status is open to non-Arctic states approved by the Council at the Ministerial Meetings that occur once every two years. Observers have no voting rights in the Council. Svalbard Treaty The Svalbard Treaty (originally the Spitsbergen Treaty) recognises the sovereignty of Norway over the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, at the time called Spitsbergen. The treaty regulates the demilitarisation of the archipelago. The signatories were given equal rights to engage in commercial activities (mainly coal mining) on the islands. Uniquely, the archipelago is an entirely visa-free zone under the terms of the Svalbard Treaty.

 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1809081