Twentieth Indian Expedition to Antarctica

The 20th Indian Antarctic Expedition was flagged off on-board M.V. Magdalena Oldenorff from Cape Town on 30 December 2000. The team comprising a total of 51 members was led by Shri Mervin J. D’Souza from Geological Survey of India. The 20th IAE team consisted of 51 members including 34 scientists from various scientific Organisations/Universities/Departments and 17 logistic members. After successful completion of all logistics and scientific tasks the 20th IAE team returned to India on March 2002.

Objectives

Scientific Achievements

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Climatological and Meteorological studies

VLF Propagation Studies

Earth Sciences and Glaciology

Planetary Geomdetic Studies

The data were generated on surface geometry and surface height ranges as well as surface motion. The computation of the data would be useful forassessing the changes in bedrock elevation. The GPS data obtained from the GPS station established at Maitri served as a fundamental marker to International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) GPS campaign for 2001.

Tele Seismic Studies

Crack Propagation Studies

Ground Probe radar Survey

The Ground Penetrating Radar Survey carried out near the Veteiah nunatak (Latitude:70o 47.75’S; Longitude:11o 41.73’E) indicated an ice thickness of 5–7 metres, which gradually increased to 100 metre at 400 metre along the survey profile from the Veteiah nunatak (due south).

Hydrographic Survey

At three locations, current direction and speed, water temperature, salinity and velocity of sound were observed using Smart Acoustic Current Meter. Ice shelf delineation was undertaken using the Helicopter. Meteorological data were collected that could be used in developing a database and correlating it with other data.

Global Change

For Palyno-stratigraphic studies, air samples were collected using Burkard Volumetric Sampler (UK) on the voyage starting from 40o South latitude to Indian Research Station Maitri, Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica. Thirty five moss cushions, 15 dry soil samples, 5 dry algal mats and 10 glacial dust samples were collected from different dry lake sites and along the margin of polar ice cap, valleys and Nunataks, in a transect at an interval of 200–500 m in and around Schirmacher Oasis. Water samples from six different glacial lakes, three fresh snow samples and three blue ice samples were collected for palynological as well chemical analysis.

Aerosol optical depth at five wavelengths, columnar ozone concentration and surface level size segregated mass concentration of aerosols were carried out. Average mass concentration found was 7 μg/m^3 of which particles of radius greater than 1 μm contributed 63% of mass.[1] Dominance of large size of particles was confirmed in spectral AOD values.

Biological Sciences and Environmental Conservation

Ecology of 16 selected lakes of Schirmacher oasis was studied by collecting water and plankton samples.

Human Biology and Medicine

Studies on leptin neuropeptide status in human beings was conducted in three phases viz., Phase I at Goa, Phase II immediately after reaching Antarctica and Phase III after one month of stay at Antarctica. Blood, urine and food samples were collected, apart from anthropometric and body fat measurements. Tests for taste sensitivity and perception were also carried out during the expedition.

Wind energy utilization in Antarctica

References

  1. Gadhavi, Harish (2004). "Aerosol characteristics and aerosol radiative forcing over Maitri, Antarctica". Current Science. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  1. Prologue to the 20th Indian Antarctic Expedition by Mervin J. D'Souza (Team Leader).
  2. XX Indian Antarctic Expedition by Ministry Of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
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