|
RAJYA SABHA
The Departmernt at its National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa is in the process of establishing a National Ice Core Laboratory, the first of its kind in South Asia in its Campus.
This laboratory will provide state of the art facility for archiving and processing of ice core samples obtained from Antarctica and other places, in specialized cold rooms where temperatures will be maintained at minus Twenty degree Celsius. This Laboratory is being equipped with special instruments, such as laser-guided precision band saw machine for cutting ice core samples. Inductively coupled Plasma Mass spectrometer, for conducting ultra-trace elemental studies in ice, water, sediments and rocks. Ion Chromatography, Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) for carrying out high sensitivity analysis of the staple isotopes of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon and Nitrogen, both in ice and sediments. A sophisticated scanning electron Microscope along with micro-chemical analyzer system is also being installed at this facility.
This facility will be available to scientists to analyse ice cores, lake sediments, rocks samples etc., essential for carrying out research on paleo-climate and past climatic changes. This research in turn will help in testing complex climate models and improving the weather prediction capabilities of the country.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Ocean Development, Shri Kapil Sibal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
|
