New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee had a rare interaction through video-conference with Indian scientists working at the Himadri station, India’s first Arctic research facility, located 1,200 km from the North Pole.
Thank you sir, It’s really cold here but it’s an exciting place to work,” an excited scientist told the president who is on a two—day state visit to Norway.
And now it was the turn of the president to ask him a question. “What is your assessment of Arctic change affecting India’s monsoon. How do the changes in this region affect monsoon development in India?” asked the president.
“The changes in Arctic region do have its impact Sir on climate in India as the melting glaciers raise the sea level which results in changes in the atmosphere,” the scientist said. Flanked by other four team members, the scientist said.
This prompted Mukherjee to ask reasons for this and how this could be prevented.
“We do a specific study and monitor glaciers. Our study is sent to Science Ministry back in Delhi where all the studies and analysis is done,” the scientist said.
India is the 11th country to have established a full—fledged research station here. The others are the UK, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.
At present there are 25 Indian projects being undertaken at Himadri which include research in microbiology and glaciology as India believes that the Arctic and the higher latitudes is where the drivers of climate are.
Bureau Report
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