In news– The Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.
About the PACER scheme-
- The PACER scheme is implemented through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Objective of the scheme is to improve our understanding of Polar Science and the cryosphere system.
- PACER encompasses the following six components.
- Construction of a polar research vessel.
- Construction of the third research base in Antarctica.
- Indian scientific endeavours in the Arctic.
- Polar expeditions-Antarctica.
- Replacement of Maitri station.
- Southern Ocean.
- It is one of the five major programs of MoES, other four are:
- Atmosphere and Climate Research – Modelling, Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS).
- Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources, Modelling and Science (OSTORMS).
- Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE).
- Research, Education, Outreach and Training (REACHOUT).
- India launched the first of her Annual Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica way back in 1981.
- This was followed by the country’s successful entry to the realms of Southern Ocean research in 2004 and the Arctic, three years later.
- To cater to the requirements of the Indian scientists in both the polar regions, two stations (Maitri and Himadri) have been established to serve as living-cum-research bases in the Antarctic and Arctic respectively.
Achievements of the scheme-
- Under this scheme, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has deployed India’s first multi-sensor moored sub-surface observatory (IndARC) at a water depth of ~180m in the Arctic.
- The IndARC mooring system along with the Hydrophone system was successfully retrieved and deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.
- It also established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
- Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted.
- Two new 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.
Source: PIB
