60 countries to study climate change

Scientists from around the world will focus their energies studying various natural phenomena in polar regions as they try to understand the mysteries of climate change and a number of other processes.

Scientists from around the world will focus their energies studying various natural phenomena in polar regions as they try to understand the mysteries of climate change and a number of other processes. The study will be a part of the International Polar Year—beginning Thursday—which will see more than 60 countries participating in 220 research projects in what is being termed the largest internationally coordinated scientific research effort in 50 years.

The experiments, which will last two complete years, will give the scientists a chance to take at least two measurements in the region which has a six-monthly day and night cycle.

India will be an active participant in these experiments and will contribute mainly to three large projects — including one which will study climate variabilities in Antarctica in the last 10,000 years.

Story continues below this ad

“The polar region is an ideal place to observe a host of natural phenomena,” said Dr Manish Tiwari of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research in Goa, which is spearheading the research efforts in India.

“Because of the pristine environment in the region, the effects of global warming are easy to monitor. Besides, the ozone layer is found at lower altitudes near the poles, which also helps in carrying out the kind of experiments that are planned,” he said.

The experiments will result in a database of different meteorological parameters that can also be preserved for future reference.

Similar polar years have been observed on three earlier occasions—1882-83, 1932-33 and 1957-58—the last one was renamed ‘International Geophysical Year’.

Story continues below this ad

The data collected in the past will be compared with the latest observations and this will help scientists in understanding the pace and manner of changes taking in nature.

A number of other programmes are also planned during the period — including efforts to generate interest among general public, especially school children, in polar science.