IndARC and Monsoon Link of Arctic
Scientists with the help of IndARC are looking for specific oceanographic factors in the Arctic Ocean that could influence Indian Monsoon. Some important notes listed here.
What is IndARC?
IndARC is the India’s first underwater moored observatory anchored in the Kongsfjorden fjord, half way between Norway (1100km away from Norway) and the North Pole at a depth of 192 metres. It has been deployed for the continuous monitoring of the oceanographic parameters from various depths in order to obtain significant inputs in the understanding of the Arctic climate and its possible link to tropical processes, specifically the Indian monsoon.
IndARC was Designed and developed by scientists from the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO), National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
Why Kongsfjorden fjord?
A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake drain, which has steep land on three sides and an opening toward the sea on the fourth side. Kongsfjorden fjord has been chosen as it as an established reference site for the Arctic marine studies. In the course of an annual seasonal cycle, Kongsfjorden fjord has been receiving varying climatic signals from the Arctic/Atlantic Ocean regions. So, it is considered as a natural laboratory for conducting detailed studies on Arctic climate variability.
What is the use of IndARC?
The effects of climate change are felt first and fastest in the Arctic as evident from the rising temperatures, loss of sea-ice and the melting of ice sheets. Change in the Arctic region influences climate patterns, sea-level rise and biodiversity changes across the world. So, the interaction between the Arctic ice shelf and the deep sea and its influence on climate shift requires long term monitoring of Kongsfjorden ford. Logistical constraints in accessing the harsh Arctic region faced so far have been addressed with the establishment of IndARC. With IndARC, the continuous collection of data from depths has been made possible.
The IndARC observatory has an array of high-end oceanographic sensors positioned strategically at discrete depths in the water column for collecting real-time data on seawater temperature, salinity, current and other vital parameters of the fjord. The data provided by IndARC helps to understand the Arctic processes and their influence on the Indian monsoon system through climate modelling studies; and the response of the Arctic to climatic variability.
