'Space tech to boost India's bi-polar research'

Panaji, May 28: India can make use of its pioneering space technology in its bi-polar research quest to unfold the mysteries of the two icy continents, Antarctica and Arctic, believes top space scientist Dr U R Rao.

''The atmospheric interaction in Antarctica and Arctic regions and its glogal impact on environment, besides study of eye-catching cosmic rays and auroras in the icy continents could well be studied using space technology which we have pioneered over the years,'' he opines.

Talking to sources on the sidelines of the just concluded silver jubilee celebrations of India's expedition to Antarctica under the aegis of the premier National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) here, Dr Rao studies as to whether formation of ozone hole was due to rise in green house gases or some other cause could be undertaken through multi-disciplinary research.

As chairman of the India's Committee for Space Research, Dr Rao, who leapfrogged the country into space through various developmental programmes over the years, wondered why a controversy over ozone depletion was still being raised when production of green house gases world over has declined with more awareness campaigns.

The scientists had find out if any other factor was responsible for the global warming and this could be done at the two poles which are immediately impacted by the warming phenomenon, he said.

Various factors such as ocean surface temperatures, atmospheric moisture content, absorption of carbon dioxide by oceans, aerosol, water and temperature distribution could lead to predict models that could help predict future climatic changes over the earth, Dr Rao said.

It might be recalled that India planned to set its foot on Arctic in the North Pole besides undertaking an in-depth research of the Southern Ocean that spans Antarctics, where the scientists have now planned to set up a third base research station in the 11th plan period beginning next year.

The astrophysical aspect of formation of bewitching auroras in myriad colours, particularly in the north and south poles due to earth's magnetic field, would be highly interesting, he says. This could be hastened through application of space technology. Joint studies with other nations in polar research could also be undertaken for synergic benefits, as the two icy continents provide vital clues to past and future climates.

As chairman of the NCAOR's Research Advisory Committee, Dr Rao said the scientists were able to drill Antarctic's womb upto 60 metres depth only for obtaining ice-core samples.

They had to go further deeper for samples that could help locate signatures of the atmosphere/climate millions of years ago so that reliable models could be developed for predicting future climates.

Significantly, the scientists have brought several ice core samples from the Antarctica and are now engaged in analysing them at the state-of-the-art ice-core labotatory that resembles the icy continent's atmosphere, located at the NCAOR's headquarters at Vasco-da-Gama city in South Goa.

The microbes (cyanobacteria), flora and fauna, several samples of which had been brought to the Goa laboratory were also being analysed to crack the genes responsible for their survival at the sub-zero temperatures of the icy continent without presence of oxygen.

This has several applications in the manufacture of new molecules for treating inveterate diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The DNA analysis of the biota's enzymes is being done at different laboratories including the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

The Earth Commission, proposed to be constituted soon for India, and the Space Commission, could go a long way to further help boost the bi-polar research, he opines.

''We have to look at the icy continents in a holistic perspective through multi-disciplinary approach, not through a narrow window, as oceans could be the only food resource for the future,'' Dr Rao added.

UNI

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