India's four successful decades of scientific endeavour in Antarctica
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New Delhi, Apr 17: The 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) has successfully returned to Cape Town on Apr 10, 2021, after completing a journey of 12 thousand nautical miles in 94 days, including stopovers. The achievement concludes four successful decades of India's scientific endeavour in the continent of peace and cooperation.
The 40-ISEA comprised Indian scientists, engineers, doctors, and technicians, who began their journey from the Mormugao Port of Goa to Antarctica on Jan 07, 2021. The team reached its destination station Bharati on Feb 27, 2021, and Maitri on Mar 08, 2021. Bharati and Maitri are India's permanent research base stations in Antarctica.
On its way to Antarctica, the voyage team deployed four autonomous Ocean Observing DWS (Directional Wave Spectra) wave drifters between 35-degree and 50-degree south latitudes in collaboration with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) Hyderabad. The drifters would transmit real-time data of spectral characteristics of waves, sea surface temperatures, and sea-level atmospheric pressure to INCOIS, Hyderabad, which will help validate weather predictions in a big way.
The 40-ISEA was conducted under innumerable challenges due to the persisting Corona virus pandemic. Necessary measures were taken to keep the Antarctic free of coronavirus. The team was subjected to a stringent medical examination by the Goa Medical College before departure and was quarantined for 14 days before boarding the ship. After accomplishing several scientific objectives, changeover of winter crew, and Bharati and Maitri's resupply, the 40-ISEA Indian contingent returned to Cape Town on Apr 10, 2021, marking four decades of success of the country's scientific endeavour in Antarctica.