Expansion of Ocean Observation Network

Why in news

The Government of India has significantly strengthened its national ocean observation network, as detailed in a Parliament Question.

Exam relevance

GS3 · Science & Technology, Environment & Ecology · Prelims · Mains

Key facts

1. India has expanded its national ocean observation network.
2. The network includes 19 subsurface moorings for monitoring ocean currents and zooplankton biomass.
3. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System consists of 17 seismic stations, 7 deep-ocean tsunami buoys, and 36 coastal tide gauges.
4. The system also includes 35 GNSS receivers and strong-motion accelerometers.
5. INCOIS maintains 17 Directional Wave Rider Buoys, 20 ADCPs, 32 AWS, 2 Water Quality Buoys, and 50 tide gauges.
6. Over 300 Argo profiling floats have been deployed.
7. Other deployed instruments include deep-sea gliders, drifting buoys, wave drifters, VMPs, uCTD systems, and Wire Walker systems.

Prelims pointers

• India's ocean observation network includes subsurface moorings for monitoring ocean currents and zooplankton biomass.
• The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System comprises seismic stations, deep-ocean tsunami buoys, and coastal tide gauges.
• INCOIS is involved in maintaining coastal observation systems like Directional Wave Rider Buoys and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers.
• Argo profiling floats are deployed for deep-sea and autonomous ocean observations.

Mains practice question

Discuss the significance of India's expanded ocean observation network in enhancing its disaster preparedness and scientific research capabilities.

Static linkage

Ocean observation networks are crucial for understanding oceanographic processes, climate change impacts, and disaster preparedness, linking to India's scientific research infrastructure and disaster management capabilities.

Significance

The expansion of the ocean observation network enhances India's capacity for real-time monitoring of oceanographic parameters, improving weather forecasting, tsunami early warning systems, and climate research. It provides critical data for validating ocean models, understanding marine ecosystems, and supporting maritime activities. This strengthens national security and disaster resilience.