Himadri Station of India - Research Station In Arctic

Himadri Station is India’s first permanent Arctic research station. With the accommodation of a total of 8 scientists, Himadri Research Station was inaugurated on the 1st July 2008. India’s research station in the Arctic is located at Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway.

The article aims to share relevant facts on India’s Himadri Research Station. Details on India’s research station in the Arctic is relevant for the IAS exam as well as for other competitive exams.  

The topic, ‘India’s Himadri Research Station in the Arctic’ is important for the current affairs preparation for Prelims examination because India’s Draft Arctic Policy that envisages India’s engagement in the Arctic region has been in the news recently. 

Additionally, candidates preparing for UPSC Prelims can go through the relevant links provided below to give an edge to their preparation – 

Himadri – India’s Research Station in the Arctic

1. Himadri is India’s first research station located at the International Arctic Research base in Norway.
2. India is the 11th country after Britain, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway to set up a permanent research station in Ny-Ålesund (Town in Oscar II Land on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway.)
3. It is located at a distance of 1,200 kilometres from the North Pole.
4. Himadri station was opened considering the sustained interest shown by Indian scientists in pursuing scientific studies in the Arctic.
5. The research station Himadri carries out studies in disciplines like Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences & Biological sciences, etc.
6. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) (previously known as National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research – NCAOR) is a nodal agency that makes sure the availability of the requisite facilities at the Himadri. 

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Objectives of Himadri Station of India 

• To conduct research on the dynamics and mass budget of Arctic glaciers focusing on the effect of glaciers on sea-level change.
• To characterize sea ice in the Arctic using satellite data to estimate the effect of global warming in the northern polar region.
• To study the hypothesized teleconnection between the Arctic climate and the Indian monsoon by analyzing the sediment and ice core records from the Arctic glaciers and the Arctic Ocean. 
• To carry out a comprehensive assessment of the flora and fauna of the Arctic and their response to anthropogenic activities.
• In addition, it is proposed to undertake a comparative study of the life forms from both the Polar Regions.

India has recently come up with its draft Arctic Policy. Climate research, environmental monitoring, maritime cooperation and energy security are its core pillars. 

Check the links below to find out more about the weather, climate change, oceans and India’s Deep Ocean Mission:

Functions of Himadri Station of India

1. Long term monitoring of the fjord (Kongsfjorden) dynamics, and atmospheric research.
2. Research on aerosol radiation, food-web dynamics, microbial communities, sedimentology, and carbon recycling. Also, research and study in the fields of genetics, glaciology, geology, space weather and pollution in the atmosphere, among other fields. 
3. Maintain the governance and policy of the Arctic.

Benefits of India’s Research Station in the Arctic

1. The Arctic region is very rich in minerals, oil and gas. The United States Geological Survey estimates that 22% of the world’s oil and natural gas could be located beneath the Arctic.
2. Due to global warming, some parts of the Arctic are melting thus opening up the possibility of new shipping routes through the region that can reduce existing distances. (Learn more about Global Warming through key findings of IPCC Report on Global Warming provided in the linked article)
3. Countries already having ongoing activities in the Arctic hope to have a stake in the commercial exploitation of natural resources present in the region.
4. The Arctic Council seeks to ensure that the commercial exploitation of resources in the Arctic is done in a sustainable manner without harming the interests of local populations and in conformity with the local environment.
5. India is required to take advantage of the observer status it has earned in the Arctic Council to stay relevant in the Arctic region and consider investing more in the Arctic. 

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