NT Reporter
Panaji
Rapid Arctic warming is influencing extreme weather events in India, including heavy rainfall and flooding, according to Dr Avinash Kumar, Scientist E at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
He said the Arctic is warming six times faster than the global average and its changing climate patterns are now linked to the Indian monsoon.
“Our recent studies found that the Arctic has a strong connection with monsoon systems in India. When Arctic sea ice reduces significantly, we can predict extreme rainfall events, especially along the west coast,” said Dr Kumar. He added that such predictions can be made three to six months in advance.
Kumar said researchers at NCPOR had accurately forecast flooding in western India months before the event occurred.
“The Hindu newspaper reported our study that predicted Anand flooding. Our paper came out two months before the floods happened,” he said.
He was speaking during a media workshop on ‘Exploring the Extremes: India’s Polar Science Chronicles’ held on Thursday.
On long-term temperature trends, Kumar said global temperatures have been rising steadily since the 1880s, increasing by around 0.2°C every decade. He said this warming is speeding up melting in polar regions and affecting weather systems globally.
He also spoke about a geological discovery by NCPOR scientists, who found coal deposits in Antarctica that match formations found in India.
“Once upon a time, our east coast of India and eastern Antarctica were part of the same landmass,” he said, referring to the theory of continental drift.
Kumar described the challenging conditions of polar expeditions, where temperatures in Antarctica can drop as low as -89°C and visibility may fall below one metre.
“We make chain roping so everybody holds hands because otherwise it’s very difficult to trace anyone when visibility is zero,” he said.
On international climate politics, Kumar criticised former US President Donald Trump’s actions on climate research.
“Donald Trump stopped many organisations and research labs working on climate change, claiming it’s a natural process. But it’s a reality – human influence is significant,” he said.
NCPOR, based in Vasco, is India’s main polar research institution and coordinates proposals from over 120 organisations. India has two active research stations in Antarctica — Maitri and Bharti — and plans to build a third station named Maitri-2. The country’s first station, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983 but was later abandoned after it sank in the snow.
India became a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, giving it decision-making powers in polar research. “India is among 29 countries
with consultative status, which is a big achievement because it’s a power position in Antarctica governance,” said Kumar.
