Maiden Indian Scientific Expedition To The South Pole

Maiden Indian Scientific Expedition To The South Pole the Expedition Team hoisted the Indian Tricolour at the South POLE on 22nd November, 2010.Expedition team has traversed 2350 km and on the way they collected data on ice physics, chemistry, geomorphology structure of ice etc.Expedition team left Maitri on 13 th Nov 2010 for South Pole consisting of eight members and with four specialized vehicles covered their journey in ten days: Team leader of this expedition Dr. Rasik Ravindran, Director of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa and his team members talked shared experience with media members today 11 Jan 2010 at Ashoka Hotel New Delhi:The year 2011 marks thirty years of Indian presence in Antarctica the Government of India launched a scientific overland expedition to South pole fro Indian research base in Antarctica, "Maitri".Mr Javed Beg -Geologist Scientist and others experts answered media question with ease,on matter pertains to their health, food, how to keep well being at as low as minus 55 degrees C and about the nature of tectonic plates and glacial-geomorphological landforms; Science component of the expedition includes a) Raising cores at regular spacing along the Maitri-South Pole (Amundsen-Scot station) traverse for study of variability of snow chemistry particular matter, etc. b) GPR section along traverse to understand bed rock topography and Sub surface- Ice structure. c) Study of glacial-geomorphological landforms along the plateau, d) Collection of Meteorological and geophysical parameter along the 2000 km long traverse.

Geographic South Pole is different than the Geomagnetic South Pole. The Geographic South Pole is located on the continent of Antarctica (although this has not been the case for all of Earth's history because of continental drift). It sits atop a featureless, windswept, icy plateau at an altitude of 2,835 meters (9,306 ft), about 1,300 km (800 mi) from the nearest sea at McMurdo Sound.

The polar ice sheet is moving at a rate of roughly 10 meters per year towards the Weddell Sea. Therefore, the position of the station and other artificial features relative to the geographic pole gradually shifts over time. The Geographic South Pole is marked by a sign and a stake in the ice pack, which are repositioned each year on New Year's Day to compensate for the movement of the ice. However, the Ceremonial South Pole is an area set aside for photo opportunities at the South Pole Station. It is located a short distance from the Geographic South Pole, and consists of a metallic sphere on a plinth, surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty signatory states.