The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has made headlines with its plans to conduct airline mapping of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. These islands are strategically located off the mainland of India, in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal respectively. The grand undertaking aims to provide a clearer understanding of the ocean floor.
About the INCOIS
Established in 1999, the INCOIS is an autonomous organization functioning under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Based in Hyderabad, it operates as a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), New Delhi, which acts as the executive arm of MoES. The main objective of INCOIS is to offer highly accurate ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, and government agencies through continuous ocean observations and systematic research.
Role of NRSC and Bathymetric Study
To further its efforts, INCOIS plans to collaborate with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), one of the key centers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This collaboration aims towards conducting a ‘bathymetric’ study of the Andaman, Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Bathymetry evaluates the depth of water bodies and provides insights into underwater terrain. The NRSC has previously implemented a similar high-resolution topographic Airborne Laser Terrain Mapping (ALTM) for the entirety of India’s coastal areas.
Understanding ALTM
ALTM employs Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), an active remote sensing technology, to measure topography at high spatial resolution across large areas. By pulsing a laser thousands of times per second, ALTM measures the range between an airborne platform and the Earth’s surface. This technique is currently being used to collate data for a 3D multi-hazard mapping of India’s east and west coastline, offering a precise image of the seabed.
Significance of the Study
Studies like these are crucial due to the increased risk of tsunamis, as observed with recent incidents on Indonesian coasts. Here, landslides under the sea causing wave surges led to colossal damage before there was sufficient time to alert residents.
Additional Initiatives
In addition to this, INCOIS has identified pockets along the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for installing more tide gauges. This initiative is aimed at improved sea monitoring and more accurate prediction of upcoming disasters like cyclones. In collaboration with the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), INCOIS has been examining data from a ‘Flux Buoy’ deployed in the Bay of Bengal. This device monitors various parameters like temperature, pressure, salinity, radiation, and geo-chemical changes at different depths.
Global Efforts in Bathymetry
Internationally, similar initiatives are underway. Notably, Seabed 2030 is a joint project between the Nippon Foundation of Japan and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO). The endeavor aims to collate all available bathymetric data to create a definitive map of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it universally accessible.
