The Arctic Circle is an important area which is studied for important information regarding the climate change that is happening on the Earth. What is more, this particular area is also one of the most challenging places to study due to a number of factors. Up until now, there were only three research stations there that were manned around the year. Now, the fourth one will be India’s as it deployed four scientists on a winter expedition to the Arctic.
India’s Winter Expedition To The Arctic: Four Scientists Deployed
According to an article which was recently published by The Indian Express, a team of scientists have embarked on a winter expedition to the Arctic to study this important region. The team is composed of four scientists who commenced their journey on December 18 and is scheduled between December 19, 2023, to January 15, 2024.
The scientists were from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune, the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research Goa, and the Raman Research Institute Bengaluru. They will be stationed at the Himadri Arctic Research Station which is situated in Svalbard’s Spitsbergen, an island in the Norwegian archipelago.
There, India currently has an ‘Observer’ status. The objective of the expedition is to cover a variety of areas of study. These include climate studies, astronomy, astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, and much more. There will also be a special focus on studying lightning over the Arctic, the impact of aerosols on the environment, the role of precipitation in climate change, and more.
Also Read: Viral Video Shows What A Typical Workday In Antarctica Looks Like; Netizens Express Disbelief
Here’s Why Studying It Is So Important
Japan was the first country in the world to establish a research station in Ny-Alesund. As per The Indian Express article, the sea ice and water in the Arctic have the potential to impact not just the region around it, but also regions outside of it. What is more, it can also impact atmospheric circulation as the sea levels rise.
According to experts, over the last 100 years, the temperature in the Arctic has risen by four degrees centigrade. Additionally, the rate at which seawater freezes and forms ice, also known as sea-ice extent, has declined by 13 per cent per decade. Hence, studying the region could provide incredibly useful insights into how climate change can be dealt with.
So far, France, China, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Out of these countries, only four now have stations that are manned around the year.
Also Read: Boeing 787 Becomes 1st Ever Boeing To Land On Antarctica’s Ice Runway; Dreamy Pics Inside!
Do you think studying the Arctic is a good idea? If you were sent on such a mission, how do you think you would fare? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @ncaor_goa/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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