Star News Agency
India’s National South Pole Expedition will start today as part of international celebration of centenary of man’s reaching South Pole in 1911.The first expedition to the South Pole went exactly 100 years ago. It started in 1902 and completed in 1911. Taking into account the expertise required for travelling in the highly crevassed terrain at sub-zero temperatures touching minus 45° C and strong winds up to 200 km/hr., only the scientists who have the experience of wintering over in Antarctica and knowhow of snow vehicles have been included in the team. The scientists are also expert in the field of specific scientific activity proposed to be undertaken during the traverse to South Pole.
The team comprises of 8 members. Dr Rasik Ravindra, Director of National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) who is 62 years old is leader of the team. There are other 5 scientists and two drivers. The scientists are Sarvashri Ajay Dhar, Javed Beg, Thamban Meloth, Asit Swain and Pradip Malhotra. Shri Krishnamurthy and Shri Surat Singh are vehicle mechanics and drivers. Two scientists will also drive the vehicle.
The leader of the team Shri Rasik Ravindra, is expert in Glaciology Geomorphology. Dr Rasik served as Leader, Station Commander during 1989-91 Expedition; Observer, Department of Ocean Develpoment, 1996-97 Expedition; leader of Task Force for selection of site for New Station in 2003 and he was also Member during 7th, 9th, 10th, 16th, and 23rd Indian Expeditions.
Shri Ajay Dhar is expert in Geophysics magnetic and is working with Indian Institute of Geomagnatism(IIG). He has experience as a leader and Station Commander of 1998-2000 expedition, Voyage leader of 26th, 27th and 28th Indian expeditions; and member of 5th, 6th, 15th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, 27th and 28th Expeditions. Shri Asit Swain is a Geologist with Geological Survey of India (GSI). He was Member of 27th, 28th and 29th Indian Antarctic Expeditions. His speciality is in Ground Penetrating Radar. Shri M.J. Beg is working with NCAOR. His experience include Deputy Leader of 19th and 24th Expedition; Member of 10th, 13th, 19th, 24th and 25th Indian Antarctic Expeditions. He will be involved in Logistics and Instrumentation as well as co-ordination.Dr. Thamban Meloth was Member of 28th Indian Expedition. His specialty is in drilling short ice cores over shelf ice.
Dr.P. Malhorta is a Medical Doctor. He was Leader of 28th expedition and Station Commander. He was Member of 23rd, 28th and 29th Expedition. Shri Krishnamurthy and Shri Surat Singh have experienced three and two wintering respectively and will be mechanics and drivers for this expedition.
The Scientific Equipments which will be carried are a dual frequency ground penetrating radar, shallow ice coring machine with hoisting mechanism. (Available with NCAOR), digital flux-gate magnetometer (available with IIG), vehicle mounted weather station or alternatively wind/pressure/ temperature/humidity measuring hard held devices and high pixel digital camera with wide angle and magnifying lens with stand and a video camera.
Posts
0 Comments