BERHAMPUR: Antarctica bears the clues that can make us understand climatic changes and their effect on earth to get us prepared for future climatic changes, said Asit Kumar Swain member of the Antarctica division of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

He is the first Oriya geologist to work in Antarctica and alumni of the Geology Department of Khallikote Autonomous College of the city.

Palaeoclimatic study

Speaking at the annual seminar of Geology Department of the college on Friday, Mr. Swain said that the GSI is making extensive `palaeoclimatic' study in Antarctica.

As Antarctica happens to be the least polluted region of the world it still bears the marks of climatic changes on earth since thousands of years hidden in its icy sediments.

The geologists are taking ice-core samples and rock samples to study the geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological, biological, micro-palaeontological elements at various time spans of sedimentation.

Parameters

"Climatic changes bring in alteration in various parameters in the sediments from which experts assess climatic condition at a particular time period," he said.

He cited the example of palaeontological remains of a micro-organism `Thecamobeans' which speak of the climatic temperature of a particular time period.

Increased importance

As the earth is facing the threat of global warming the study of past effects of major climatic changes on the planet has become quite important as it relates to the survival of the humans.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Matikhalo unit of the Indian Rare Earths' Limited (IREL) also attended the seminar in which all students and staff of the department participated.

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