The Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.
Context
The Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.
About Pacer Initiative
- The Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) scheme comprises the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program.
- It is implemented through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- PACER encompasses the following six components.
- Construction of a polar research vessel
- Construction of the third research base in Antarctica
- Indian scientific endeavours in the Arctic
- Polar expeditions-Antarctica
- Replacement of Maitri station
- Southern Ocean
Achievements of the scheme
- Under this scheme, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has deployed India’s first multi-sensor moored sub-surface observatory (IndARC) at a water depth of ~180m in the Arctic.
- The IndARC mooring system along with the Hydrophone system was successfully retrieved and deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.
- It also established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
- Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted.
- Two new Automatic Weather Station (AWS) systems were installed at Baralacha La, a high elevation site in the arid Spiti region to strengthen infrastructure across the Chandra basin.
