Ministry of Earth Sciences Celebrates It’s Foundation Day

Taking into account India’s vast coastline of about 7500 km. length and the fact that approximately 37% of India’s population live in the coastal areas, deriving benefits from the seas, the then Prime Minister . Gandhi created the Department of Ocean Development as an independent Scientific Department on July 27, 1981. The Department was notified as the Ministry of Ocean Development () in February 2006. Keeping in view the close interaction between Ocean, Atmosphere and Earth and the need to have an integrated scientific approach, the Government approved the formation of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (), which came into being on 12

related to earth systems through well integrated programmes and utilizing world class science and technology resources. In addition, the Ministry also works on science and technology for exploration and exploitation of ocean resources (living and non-living), and plays nodal role for Antarctic/Arctic and Southern Ocean Research. The Ministry plays a key role in disaster warning for Tsunami, oil spills, cyclones and storm surges.

liter per day desalination plant, Establishment of Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS, Hyderabad, 28 successful scientific trips to Antarctica, initiation of scientific expeditions to Arctic, Development of deep drilling technology, etc. are a few success stories.

Desalination is a flagship drinking water . The Ministry of Earth sciences has worked extensively in quest for techno-economically viable solutions for desalination. This is being achieved by Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) and Other Conventional Desalination Processes.National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Ministry, laboratory scale model with a capacity of 5m Island of and 1000mLTTD.

and communication technology. The TsunamiEarlyWarningCenter is operational now and has monitored 186 major earth quakes, issued advisories and has improved observing systems. Besides this, it has improved the PFZ advisory service and Ocean State Forecast. INCOIS continues to play the lead role in the Indian Ocean region and has made significant contributions to international initiatives such as Indian Ocean Global Observing System, International Agro , International Oceanographic Data Exchange etc. New data products and services have been developed and provided to user community.

and in 1981 and 1983 respectively. 28 expeditions have been completed. During the last expedition, hourly synoptic weather observations were of ozone and its precursors in marine and polar boundary layer was studied. Geological survey of India, Environmental sciences, Biological sciences, Wildlife Institute of India also carried out mapping of rugged area, collection of sub-surface snow, soil and water body, lichens and moss, monitoring of birds and mammals during the sea journey.

, genetic diversity of marine , cycling, plankton organic carbon cycling at the marginal ice zone etc.

India is the first pioneer investor to have been allotted a site of 1 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by International Sea Bed Authority. Oceans are huge storehouses of resources like minerals, oil, food and energy. India hassuccessfully reached the maximum depth of 5256m and has sampled manganese nodules through Remotely Operable Vehicle (ROV)-(ROSUB 6000). This is for the first time ROV has gone beyond the depth of 5000 m in CentralIndian OceanBasin. The Qualification at Poly Metallic Nodule (PMN) site in CentralIndian OceanBasin onboard Ocean Research Vessel started in Mangalore on 1When ROV reached the maximum depth of 5256m, certain electrical problems were noticed but they were rectified after bringing back to the deck.

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) which will put it as world center of excellencein oceanic and atmospheric sciences. The Ministry has taken a positive stepto implement a comprehensive developmental involving India Meteorological department (IMD), National Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and ) Indian Institute of tropical Meteorology (IITM). (PIB Features)

& C), Press Information Bureau, New Delhi.