The Hindu : National : The perils of melting polar ice

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 29, 2005

National

National

The perils of melting polar ice

Sandeep Dikshit

The rise in water level in the oceans could leave low-lying areas submerged

NEW DELHI: Indian scientists based in Antarctica have found that the mean temperature in the polar region has gone up by 4.5 degrees C in the past 50 years, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The rise in water level in the oceans as a consequence of the melting of ice could leave low-lying areas submerged. In contrast, the mean temperature of the earth has gone up by half a degree in the same period.

Recalling his visit to Antarctica earlier this year, Mr. Sibal said he was shown proof of the recession of ice. Though Antarctica absorbs the maximum quantity of carbon dioxide, this is not a problem India can solve on its own.

There has to be a legal regime to reduce carbon dioxide but a nuanced stance is required in order not to sacrifice the interests of economic development, said Mr. Sibal.

The Minister said that India was conducting mineral surveys in the southeastern tip of Antarctica, where traces of iron ore, silver, gold and copper had been found.

Rock morphology

India feels that this part of Antarctica had broken away from the Eastern Ghats during the Gondwana era. The rock morphology of both regions was similar. India should lay claim to this area when the issue is reopened in 2040.

Indian research in Antarctica was focussing on producing bacteria in the extremely low temperatures prevailing there.

If scientists are ever able to produce bacteria, they can be used to check bio-degradation caused by human waste in the upper reaches, possibly in the Siachen Glacier where 10,000 troops are posted at any given time.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National