Changes in Arctic ice affect Indian Monsoon: Scientists

Changes in the Arctic region impact Indian Monsoon and the Asian subcontinent, climate scientists told the 102nd Indian Science Congress in the city early this week. According to researchers associated with National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), ministry of earth sciences, there is a connection between the northern polar region and the Indian Monsoon.

What's NCOAR?
NCOAR is the nodal agency that plans, formulates, coordinates and implements India`s polar programme as a multi-institutional national endeavour.

What have studies shown?
"Arctic Ocean and surrounding regions in North Pole not only govern the Earth`s climate, but also affect Indian Monsoon. The cold climes in North Atlantic have direct link to the weakened Indian Monsoon," said Dr S Rajan, director, NCOAR. There's a physical link between intense Monsoon over north-west India and the melting of Arctic ice, NCOAR studies have shown," said Dr Rajan.

How is Monsoon affected?
"Warm water currents move from tropics to the poles where they turn cold, increasing the salinity of oceans, causing water to sink and releasing heat. This keeps much of western Europe warm. But melting polar ice disrupts this cycle by flushing fresh water into the oceans at the poles. Due to this, salinity of oceans decreases, preventing warm water from sinking and releasing warmth. This results in cold waves across Europe. This water then travels southwards, increasing the temperature difference between land and oceans in the tropics, leading to changes in Monsoon patterns," Dr Rajan said.

What are scientists trying to find out?
They are now trying to figure out if Indian Monsoon also affects melting of Arctic ice.

Does India have research stations at poles?
India started its first permanent research station, Dakshin Gangotri, in Antarctica in 1983 which got buried under the ice. The second station, Maitri, was opened in 1988-89; a third station, Bharti, became operational a year ago. India`s permanent research station, Himadri, was opened in 2008 at North Pole.

Any contribution to Arctic research?
India is a member of International Arctic Science Committee, a non-governmental organisation that aims to encourage, facilitate and promote cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research in all countries engaged in Arctic research. India is also part of a 10-country mission to explore the climate angle to the melting of polar ice caps.

Do we have an underwater observatory?
Yes. India deployed its first underwater moored observatory, IndARC, in July 2014 in the Arctic, half way between Norway and North Pole, to understand the Arctic climate process and its influence on Indian Monsoon. The observatory is situated 192m deep and has 10 oceanographic sensors that collect real-time data on seawater temperature, salinity and ocean currents.