INDIA
National Contact	Dileep Kumar
Email	dileepdarya.nio.org
Website	None
Full Reports (pdf)	Jun 02 Feb 07

The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) - IGBP Brain Storming Session on Joint-Implementation of Surface Ocean - Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) and Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) was held at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, 28-29 December 2003.

The meeting was conducted in three sessions:
Session I
Introduction to SOLAS & IMBER, Issues of Indian Ocean, 1400-1815 hrs., 28 December 2003.

Session II:
Research proposals, 0900-1300 hrs, 29 December 2003

Session III:
Integrated Discussion for Implementations Strategy - Project Proposal, 1400-1645 hrs, 29 December 2003.

Twenty-one participants from National Institute of Oceanography (Goa), National Geophysical Research Institute (Hyderabad), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (Pune), Center for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation (Bangalore), Indian National Center for Ocean Information Studies (Hyderabad), Center for Marine Living Resources (Kochi), Andhra University (Visakhapatnam), Calcutta University (Kolkata), Mangalore University (Mangalore), National Institute of Ocean Technology (Chennai), Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad) and National Physical Laboratory (New Delhi) participated in the Brain Storming Session (BSS).

In the afternoon session of 29th integrated discussion was held on the central, unifying theme of ‘Ocean Fertilization’, after all the participants agreed its timeliness in the interest of the nation. As the ocean fertilization is induced naturally and through deliberate means we could adopt Modular Approach in planning/conducting the experiments. The experiments were proposed under three modules: (1) Natural (i.e. upwelling in summer monsoon and convection in winter), (2) Anthropogenic but inadvertent (e.g., runoff of unutilized fertilizers from agricultural fields to coastal ecosystems) and (3) Anthropogenic and deliberate (through additions of macro or micro-nutrients). These studies should be undertaken with an ‘integrated biogeochemical approach’, with special focus on ‘species diversity and foodweb structure’ and feedbacks between surface ocean – marine boundary layer processes.

It was decided that the SOLAS-IMBER project proposals by interested participants should be prepared under different modules with conservative new equipments/facilities and budget requirement by deriving strength to the proposal from considering ‘share and collaborate’ approach with other participating laboratories.

A Task Force was set up comprising M. Dileep Kumar (NIO, leader), R. M. Dwivedi (SAC), P. C. S. Devara (IITM), N. S. Sarma (AU), B. Nair (INCOIS), P. S. Swathi (CMMACS) and V. N. Sajeevan (CMLRE). The Task Force requested the participants to orient their proposals in tune with recommended modular approaches on Ocean Fertilization and submit the same to Dileep Kumar. The task team will endeavor to finalize proposals and submit for funding through INSA-IGBP to Government of India funding agencies: Department of Science and Technology, Department of Ocean Development and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Proposals under preparation

A total of 10 projects are being considered for final recommendation. These will be forwarded to INSA-IGBP by July 15, 2004.

Opportunities for national participation in international SOLAS activities

Highly competent and experienced marine and atmospheric scientists together with the available modern facilities (including isotopic measurement systems, recently established AMS facility etc.), coastal and deep sea research vessels facilitate India participate in international programmes. Besides, India has expertise in campaign mode ocean-atmosphere coupled experiments and carried out Monsoon Experiment (MONEX), Bay of Bengal Monsoon Experiment (BOBMEX), Indian Ocean Experiments (INDOEX). The Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX) is underway. Our remote sensing technology and expertise is one of the best in the world and will become an asset in performing SOLAS related experiments. Multi-disciplinary experiments have been conducted during IGBP core projects JGOFS, LOICZ and IGAC. Proximity to the Indian Ocean, a potential region vibrant with respect to ocean-atmosphere interactions, and available facilities make India an ideal choice for international collaboration in SOLAS research.