Present Address:
G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan
Environment & Development
Himachal Unit, Mohal-Kullu
Himachal Pradesh-175 126
India
(An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt.
of India)
E-mail: kh_gaja@yahoo.com
Tel: 0091-1902-25329 ext. 25
Fax: 0091-1902-22720
Mobile : 09817082826
Father name: Shri
Khwairakpam Shachikumar Singh
Date of Birth: February
01, 1972
Marital Status: Married
Nationality: Indian
Countries visited:
Mauritius, South Africa and Antarctica
Permanent Address: Ningthoukhong Center Rd. W.No.8,
Near Panganba, Dist.
Bishnupur, Manipur, 795126 (India),
Tel: 00-91-3879-261244
Languages Known:
English, Hindi, and Manipuri
Passport No.:
0/IND/1024347
***************************
Highest Level: Ph.D. in
Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Registration Date:
September 13, 1999
Awarded: April 19, 2003 (Awarded)
Title of thesis: 'Study
of atmospheric parameters in relation to Antarctic ecosystem over the
Schirmacher region of East Antarctica'. (Please see Content & Summary).
Name of University:
Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, India
--------------------------
Second Highest Level:
Master of Technology (M-Tech)
Subject: Environmental
Science and Engineering
Graduation Date: June,
1996 to June, 1998
Grade: 1st Division
(63.65 %)
Major Project:
"Net energy potential from the vegetable wastes generated at Agriculture
Produce Market Committee (APMC), Azadhpur, Delhi," Ministry of
Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India, New Delhi-110 003.
Minor Project:
"SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) measurements of atmospheric stability
classes," Radio & Atmospheric Sciences Division, National Physical
Laboratory, New Delhi-110 012.
Name of University:
Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, India
---------------------------
Master Level: Master
Degree in Science (M. Sc.)
Subject: Environmental
Sciences
Date: June, 1994 to
June, 1996
Grade: 1st Division
(67%)
Major Project:
"Responses of 14 days old seedlings to salt stress in different wheat
genotypes (Triticum aestivum. L.)". Dept. of Environ Sci., G.J.U. Hisar,
India
Minor Project:
"The fate of Loktak Lake", under the Dept. of Environmental Sciences,
G.J.U. Hisar, India.
Name of Institution:
Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, India
----------------------------
Bachelor Degree:
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Three years Degree Course)
Subject: Botany
(Honours)
Graduation Date: June,
1990 - June, 1994
Grade: 1st Division
(66.40 %)
Name of Institution:
Imphal College Imphal, (Manipur University)
----------------------------
Achivements:
******************************
1. Member of the 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, 16th
Winter Over Team (WOT), December 1998 to March 2000. Nominated by the National
Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, sponsored by the Department of Ocean
Development (DOD), Govt. of India and National Center for Antarctic and Ocean
Research (NCAOR), Goa.
-----------------------------
2. Awarded first position for the best scientific paper presentation in
the Symposium on Biodiversity and Resource Management, 22nd Annual Session of
the Academy of Environmental Biology, Lucknow, India. Organised by Industrial
Toxicology Research Center, Lucknow, India and sponsored by the National Bureau
of Fish Genetic Research, Lucknow, India, dated September 11-13, 2002.
-----------------------------
3. Sucessfully completed the National Eligibilty Test (NET) 2001
conducted by the ICAR/UGC
Research papers and Scientific/Technical reports: Please see Annexure-1
************************************************
***********************
Institution Name: G.B.
Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development Himachal Unit,
Mohal-Kullu Himachal Pradesh-175 126 India
Title: Research
Scientist
Date Joined: April 21,
2003
Duties: Changing
behaviour of ambient air quality and surface ozone in hill spots: A case study
of Kullu-Manali Tourist Complex (KMTC), North-western Himalaya.
--------------------------------------
Company Name: Radio
& Atmospheric Science Division, National Physical Laboratory, New
Delhi-110012
Title: Senior Research
Fellow (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Date Joined: September
23, 1998
Reason for leaving: Got
better job opportunity
Duties: Study of
Atmospheric parameters in relation to the terrestrial ecosystem of East Antarctica.
Task to measure the UV-B Radiation and Ozone, using UV-Biometer, UV-Radiometer,
UV-Vis. Sunphotometer, and Laser Heterodyne System using Liquid Nitrogen,
Remote sensing etc.
Accomplishment: Four
and half years
----------------------------
Company Name: The
Chanakya Consultant Pvt. Ltd. Munirka, New Delhi-67
Title: Project
Executive
Date Joined: July 01,
1998
Date of leaving:
September 10, 1998
Reason for leaving: To
pursue for further research work/studies.
Duties: EIA, Industrial
Complexing and Relocation of Dyeing and Printing Units at Sanganer Jaipur.
Poultry Waste & Flyash management report, Business Development etc.
----------------------------
**************
MS DOS, Windows 95/98/2000, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Word, Procomm,
PageMaker, HTML, Netscape, Adobe PhotoShop, Corel Draw, Adobe Acrobat Reader,
Paint Shop Pro, Grapher, Minitab, Telnet, Some Knowledge of Mat lab,
Programming languages learning in progress (FORTRAN, C, C++, Java etc.).
------------------------------
Additional professional Membership/ training's/ workshop/Exhibition/ symposium etc.:
***************************
Training Program:
"High Rate Biomethanation Processes & Bio-Energy Recovery from Pulp
and Paper Mill Waste",
Organizer: Central Pulp
and Paper Research Institute (CPPRI), Saharanpur, (UNDP/GEF assisted project
'Development of High Rate Biomethanation Processes' (IND/92/G-32)
Venue: SCOPE Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi,
Date: March 02-08, 1998
Sponsorer: Ministry of
Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India
------------------------------
Training Program:
Pre-Antarctic Training
Organizer: The Indo
Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
Place: Auli, (Chamoli
Dist.) U.P.
Date: November 21-28,
1998
Sponsorer: Department
of Ocean Development, Govt. of India
---------------------------------
Science exhibition: The
2nd state level science exhibition
Organizer: The Science
Center, D.M. College of Science, Imphal
Venue: D.M. College of
Science, Imphal
Date: May 22-27, 1989
Sponsorer: The State
Department of Science, Technology and Environment
------------------------------
Workshop: International
Workshop on Waste -to-Energy
Organizer: CII
(Confederation of Indian Industry)
Venue: The Hotel Oberoi
Intercontinental
Date: August 07-08,
1997
Sponsorer: the Govt. of
India, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.
------------------------------
Symposium: 12th
National Space Science Symposium (NSSS-2002)
Organizer: Barkatullah
University, Bhopal, India.
Venue: Barkatullah
University
Dated: February 25-29,
2002.
Sponsorer: Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO)
------------------------------
Symposium: The
Symposium on Biodiversity and Resource Management, 22nd Annual Session of the
Academy of Environmental Biology.
Organizer: Lucknow,
India.
Venue: Industrial
Toxicology Research Center, Lucknow, India
Dated: September 11-13,
2002.
Sponsorer: National
Bureau of Fish Genetic Research, Lucknow, India
Award: Awarded first
position for the best scientific paper presentation.
------------------------------
Symposium: The National
Symposium on Radio and Atmospheric Sciences
Organizer: Radio &
Atmospheric Sciences Division, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi-110 012
Venue: National
Physical Laboratory, New Delhi
Dated: February 17-18,
2003.
------------------------------
************************
Participation: 2nd
World Congress for the Synthesis of Science and Religion
Dated: January 09-12,
1997
Venue: The Science City
Auditorium, Calcutta,
Organizer: The Bhaktivedanta
Institute San Francisco, USA.
------------------------------
Participation: National
Seminar on Environmental Management Challenges & Strategies
Dated: March 08-09,
1996
Venue: Guru Jambheshwar
University, Hisar, India
Organizer: Dept. of Environmental
Science, G.J.U. Hisar, India
------------------------------
*******************
Dr. H.N. Dutta. (Sci. F)
National Physical Laboratory
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road.
New Delhi- 110 012. India
Tel: +91-11-25787161 ext. 2367 (Office)
+91-11-25557276 (R)
E-mail: hndutta@csnpl.ren.nic.in
------------------------------
Dr. Mrs. Anubha Kaushik
(Chairperson)
Deptt. Of Environmental Science & Engineering,
Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar-125001 India
Tel: +91-1662-275715 (R)
-------------------------------
Er. V.K. Jain. (PSO)
Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources.
National Bio-Energy Board,
Block No. 14. C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi. 110 003. India
Tel: +91-11-24363203, 24362308
---------------------------------
I certify that the information given above are true to the best of my
knowledge.
Date: Signature
Place: Kh. Gajananda
*************************
--------------------
--------------------------------
1. "Sodar studies of foggy boundary layer characteristics", B
S Gera, Gurbir Singh, V K Ojha, P K Pasricha, Kh Gajananda and H N Dutta.
Journal of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics- Special issue of ISARS, 24-28
June 2002 (Accepted November 2002)
2. "Study of UV radiation in relation to the terrestrial ecosystem
of the Schirmacher region of East Antarctica", Kh Gajananda, Shambhu Nath,
Risal Singh, Anubha Kaushik, R S Tanwar and H N Dutta. In: 18th Indian
Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, Scientific Report, Technical Publications
No. 16. Dept. of Ocean Development. (In press)
3. "Acoustic sounding observations of thermal plumes over the
Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica", H N Dutta, Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, D
Ojha, Ashok Kumar, V B Gupta, Anubha Kaushik and Victor E Lagun. Boundary Layer
Meteorology, Revised (March 2002).
4. "Sodar studies of foggy boundary layer characteristics", B
S Gera, Gurbir Singh, V K Ojha, P K Pasricha, Kh Gajananda and H N Dutta.
Proceeding of the 11th International Symposium on Acoustic Remote Sensing
(ISARS) and Associated Techniques of the Atmosphere and Oceans 24-28 June 2002
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7 Rome, Italy.
5. "Thermal convection over Schirmacher region and its role in
dispersal of microorganisms in Antarctica", Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, H N
Dutta and Lagun Victor. Proceeding of the National Space Science Symposium-2002
at Barkatullah University, Bhopal, February 25-29, 2002.
6. "Prolonged presence of elevated layer in the planetary boundary
layer over Maitri, Antarctica", Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, H N Dutta and
Deepak Ojha and Lagun Victor. Proceeding of the National Space Science
Symposium-2002 at Barkatullah University, Bhopal, February 25-29, 2002.
7. "Atmospheric dynamics during widespread warming over East
Antarctica in February, 1996", Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, H N Dutta, B S Gera,
G Mastrantonio, A Stefania, Lagun Victor and H Enomoto. Proceeding of the
National Space Science Symposium-2002 at Barkatullah University, Bhopal,
February 25-29, 2002.
8. "Surface wind characteristics over the Schirmacher region, East
Antarctica", H N Dutta, N C Deb, Ashok Kumar, Deepak Ojha, Kh Gajananda
and Lagun Victor. Proceeding of the National Space Science Symposium-2002 at
Barkatullah University, Bhopal, February 25-29, 2002.
9. "Study of Atmospheric Parameters and their role on the
Biodiversity of the Schirmacher oasis, East Antarctica", Kh Gajananda,
Anubha Kaushik and H N Dutta & Victor E Lagun. Proceeding of the Symposium
on Biodiversity and Resource Management, 22nd Annual Session of the Academy of
Environmental Biology, Lucknow, September 11-13, 2002
10. "Winter warming: a possible mechanism for the sustenance of
microorganisms during long polar night at Antarctica", Kh Gajananda, N C
Deb & H N Dutta And Victor E Lagun. Proceeding of the Symposium on
Biodiversity and Resource Management, 22nd Annual Session of the Academy of
Environmental Biology, Lucknow, September 11-13, 2002 (Best Scientific Paper
Awarded)
11. "Study of planetary boundary layer processes at the
Ice-Air-Ocean interaction over Prince Edward coast, East Antarctica", H N
Dutta, Pawan Kumar Sharma, B S Gera, Kh Gajananda, Ashok Kumar, D Ojha, Gurbir
Singh and V K Ojha, Proceeding of the Symposium on Biodiversity and Resource
Management, 22nd Annual Session of the Academy of Environmental Biology,
Lucknow, September 11-13, 2002
12. "Atmospheric Warming over the Schirmacher Region of East
Antarctica during February, 1996", H N Dutta, Manoj K Srivastava, N C Deb,
Risal Singh, Kh Gajananda, Anubha Kaushik Ashok Kumar, Deepak Ojha, V B Gupta,
Jaya Naithani, Victor Lagun. "Chemistry-Climate Interactions", Summer
Colloquium on the Physics of Weather and Climate, Trieste, Italy; May29-Jun16,
2001
13. "Atmospheric Warming over Schirmacher Region, East
Antarctica," Kh Gajananda, Anubha Kaushik, Victor Lagun, N C Deb and H N
Dutta. Paper Accepted for Presentation in the National Symposium on Radio and
Atmospheric Sciences to be held at NPL, New Delhi, Feb: 17-18, 2003.
14. "Estimation of Biomass Production over the Schirmacher
Oasis," Kh Gajananda, Anubha Kaushik, Victor Lagun, N C Deb and H N Dutta.
Paper Accepted for Presentation in the National Symposium on Radio and
Atmospheric Sciences to be held at NPL, New Delhi, Feb: 17-18, 2003.
15. "Soil Microbial Activity in the Prevailing Environmental
Conditions around the Indian Antarctic Station, Maitri," Kh Gajananda,
Anubha Kaushik, Victor Lagun, N C Deb and H N Dutta. Paper Accepted for
Presentation in the National Symposium on Radio and Atmospheric Sciences to be
held at NPL, New Delhi, Feb: 17-18, 2003.
16. "Is it the Schirmacher Region Really Warming?", Kh
Gajananda, Anubha Kaushik, Victor Lagun, N C Deb and H N Dutta.. Paper Accepted
for Presentation in the National Symposium on Radio and Atmospheric Sciences to
be held at NPL, New Delhi, Feb: 17-18, 2003.
17. "An episode of prolonged persistence of elevated layer over Schirmacher
region during January 1996", Kh Gajananda, H N Dutta, and N C Deb National
Physical Laboratory, New Delhi- 110 012 Boundary Layer Meteorology
(Communicated November 2002).
18. "Cyclone induced warming over east Antarctic region during June
1994". H N Dutta, Manoj K Srivastava, Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, Anubha
Kaushik, Ashok Kumar, Deepak Ojha and V B Gupta and Victor Lagun., Journal of
Geophysical Research (Communicated)
19. "PBL characteristics during a ridge interspersed between two
cyclones in February 1996: a case study over the Schirmacher region, East
Antarctica", H N Dutta, Kh Gajananda, N C Deb, Deepak Ojha, V B Gupta,
Anubha Kaushik and Victor Lagun. Boundary Layer Meteorology (Communicated
November 2002).
20. "Incidence of fog during January 8-9, 1996 over the Schirmacher
region of east Antarctica". H N Dutta, Manoj K Srivastava, Kh Gajananda, N
C Deb, Anubha Kaushik, Ashok Kumar, Deepak Ojha and V B Gupta and Victor
Lagun., Journal of Geophysical Research (Communicated)
**************************************
i. "PBL Studies over the Indian Antarctic Station, Maitri", Kh
Gajananda, N. C. Deb, D. Ojha, Manoj K. Srivastava, J. Naithani, Risal Singh,
Anubha Kaushik, V. B. Gupta and H N Dutta. Final Scientific Report No.
DOD/12-MMDP/8-97-MRC CELL, NPL, New Delhi, December 2000.
ii. "Cyclone induced warming over a wide spread region in East
Antarctica: a case study, H N Dutta, Manoj K Srivastava, P K Pasricha, Kh
Gajananda, J Naithani, N C Deb, D Ojha and V B Gupta, NPL Report No.
DOD/12-MMDP/8-97-MRC Cell/01, NPL, New Delhi, October (1999) 1-15.
iii. "Software for converting CGA compatible Acoustic Sounding Data
in to SVGA Compatible Mode", Vineet Tandon, Manoj K Srivastava, Kh
Gajananda, Basant Kumar, J Naithani, N C Deb, D Ojha, V B Gupta and P K
Pasricha, H N Dutta, NPL Report No. DOD/12-MMDP/8-97-MRC Cell/02, NPL, New
Delhi, October (1999) 1-15.
iv. "An investigation in to the atmospheric dynamics during a warm
spell over East Antarctica in February, 1996", H N Dutta, Manoj K
Srivastava, P K Pasricha, Kh Gajananda, J Naithani, N C Deb, D Ojha and V B
Gupta, NPL Report No. DOD/12-MMDP/8-97-MRC Cell/03, NPL, New Delhi, December
(1999) 1-31.
v. "Monostatic acoustic sounding data recorded over the Indian
Antarctic station, Maitri during the year 1996", H N Dutta, Jaya naithani,
N C Deb, Kh Gajananda, Manoj K Srivastava, Basant Kumar, Deepak Ojha, V B Gupta
and Anubha Kaushik, NPL Report No. DOD/12-MMDP/8-97-MRC Cell/04, NPL, New
Delhi, February (2000) 1-153.
vi. "Net energy potential from the vegetable wastes generated at
Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Azadhpur, Delhi", Kh Gajananda.
Major project report for the fulfillment of the degree of Master of Technology
in Environmental Sciences and Engg, GJU, Hisar, Haryana.
vii. "Responses of 14 days old seedlings to salt stress in
different wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum. l.)", Kh Gajananda. Major
project report for the fulfillment of the degree of Master of Science in
Environmental Sciences, GJU, Hisar, Haryana.
viii. "The fate of Loktak lake," Kh Gajananda. Minor project
report for the fulfillment of the degree of Master of Science in Environmental
Sciences, GJU, Hisar, Haryana.
*******
Title of thesis: STUDY OF
ATMOSPHERIC PARAMETERS IN RELATION TO ANTARCTIC ECOSYSTEM OVER THE SCHIRMACHER
REGION OF EAST ANTARCTICA
CONTENT
CHAPTER-1 Page No.
General introduction of Antarctica
1.1 Introduction - - - - - - 1
1.2 Antarctic features - - - - 3
1.3 General Climate and Antarctic Ecosystem - - 7
1.4 Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica - - 9
1.5 Aims and objectives of the study - - - 11
CHAPTER-2
Characteristics of experimental site, instrumentation, supporting data,
sample collection & analysis
2.1 Introduction - - - - - 12
2.2 Surface characteristics of the Experimental Site - 14
2.3 Climate of the Experimental Site - - - 15
2.4 Atmospheric Measurements - - - 18
2.5 International data availability and Internet data downloading ----33
2.6 Data handling and quality control - - - 34
2.7 Ecological sample collection and Analysis - - 36
2.8 Field Observations - - - - - 42
CHAPTER-3
Ecosystem of the Schirmacher oasis and its interaction with the
atmospheric environment
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - 44
3.2 Results - - - - - - 47
3.3 Discussion on Atmospheric parameters in relation to Schirmacher
ecosystem - - - - - - 72
3.4 Conclusion - - - - - - 82
CHAPTER-4
Climatology over the Schirmacher region and trend analysis
4.1 Introduction - - - - - - 84
4.2 Temperature - - - - - - 86
4.3 Surface Winds - - - - - - 91
4.4 Wind Direction - - - - - - 98
4.5 Pressure - - - - - - 101
4.6 Precipitation (rainfall) and Humidity - - - 106
4.7 Solar Radiation - - - - - - 108
4.8 Result - - - - - - - 111
4.9 Conclusion - - - - - - 114
CHAPTER-5
Sodar studies in relation to the ecosystem of Schirmacher region
5.1 Introduction - - - - - - 115
5.2 Classification of PBL features and atmospheric processes- 116
5.3 Acoustic Sounder (SODAR) data analysis - - - 125
5.4 Surface based inversion thickness - - - 129
5.5 Atmospheric convection and dispersal of microorganisms - 130
5.6 SODAR as a future tool for the study of ecosystem dynamics 132
5.7 Discussion - - - - - - 132
5.8 Conclusion - - - - - - 134
CHAPTER-6
UV-radiation and its effect on the ecosystem of Schirmacher oasis
6.1. Introduction - - - - - - 135
6.2 Results - - - - - - 136
6.3 UV-B Radiation and ecosystem - - - - 140
6.4. Conclusion - - - - - - 141
CHAPTER-7
Winter warming and its possible impact on the sustenance of Schirmacher
ecosystem
7.1 Introduction - - - - - - 142
7.2 Results and discussion - - - - - 142
7.3 Discussion & Conclusion - - - - 151
CHAPTER-8
Discussion, recommendations for future work and conclusion
8.1 Introduction - - - - - - 154
8.2 Discussion - - - - - - 155
8.3 Conclusion - - - - - - 157
8.4 Limitation of the present study and Recommendations for future work
- - - 159
REFERENCE - - - - - - - 162
APPENDIX - - - - - - - 179
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS - - - - - - 183
************
*************************
1. Introduction
Much of the researches on the study of atmospheric parameters, geology,
biological research, long-term ecological research, ozone depletion and UV radiation
etc. over Antarctica are confined to regions occupied by the developed
countries. The Schirmacher region and its surrounding area in the eastern
Antarctica has remained more or less isolated. The Russian Antarctic station
Novolazarevskaya, which came up in the late fifties and former German station,
'George Foster' mainly concentrated on the upper atmosphere and glaciological
researches.
With the Indian Antarctic station Maitri coming up in late eighties,
some groups have made significant researches in the atmospheric and biological
sciences, however, these streams have remained isolated from each other. The
thesis is an attempt to focus the interrelationship between atmospheric
sciences and the ecosystem of Schirmacher oasis in a holistic ways.
Recent studies carried out by Doran et al., (2002) revealed that the
Antarctic temperatures are cooling in the interior of the continent. This will
largely affect the productivity, hydrological cycles, and decline in individual
population of invertebrates and changes in the biological diversity of the
terrestrial ecosystem of Antarctica. Although, many investigators have
contradicted their findings (Turner et. al., 2002).
However, in the Schirmacher region, which is at the periphery of the
continent has depicted a positive surface air temperature trend, which the NPL
team members have experienced in the past two decades. The receding of glacier
over the SO is the best example of this finding. Unfortunately, the group at
NPL is not equipped to take measurements of this glacial recede. At the same
time, the msl pressure has significantly decreased in the past four decades.
2. Discussion
The ecosystem of any region has largely evolved by the prevailing
climatic or atmospheric conditions in the past millions of years. In order to
predict the effects of global changes on the ecosystem, it will be necessary to
predict the interactive effects of changes in the atmospheric compositions,
physical parameters and their holistic approach on 'biometeorology'. However, this
can only be achieved by first understanding the effects of individual factors
on various components of ecosystem and then using this knowledge to
progressively build up an understanding of the interactive effects.
The increase in albedo of the earth's surface, caused due to the lack of
vegetation, increases the reflectance of incoming solar radiation. The reduced
absorption of radiation by the Earth's surface reduces the warming of the soil
surface, thus reducing the likelihood of convective cloud formation (Money,
1988). Local climate is also influenced by vegetation via gas exchange, which
plays a role on the increase/decrease rates of incoming radiation (Went, 1960).
The mechanisms of UV-B action on plant systems are reasonably well
understood when compared with our ability to assess potential consequences of
enhanced UV-B at the level of ecosystems. As global change involves not only
increased solar UV-B, but also increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations and
temperature changes, realistic assessments of the effect of stratospheric ozone
reduction need to consider interacting factors. The solar UV-B irradiance
reaching the ground is dependent upon the atmospheric ozone and aerosol
loading.
In Antarctica, katabatic winds represent atmospheric conditions when
microorganisms are forcefully transported from the interior towards the
periphery, but the oases regions may provide a shelter/protection for their
survival and growth. Marshall, et al., (1997) found that in Antarctica many
small plants and lesser forms of animals to have greater airborne dispersal
powers. Knudsen, (1989) emphasis the need of tools to assess the dispersal and
survival of microorganisms in the atmosphere, subsequent deposition, and fate
on plant surfaces taking the help of integrated computer simulation model for
dispersal of microbial aerosols. Thus, the study of atmospheric parameters will
be useful for developing model to predict organism's survival, dispersal and
their activity in the environment.
It is found that Schirmacher ecosystem is a peculiar Antarctic
terrestrial ecosystem, which, with very limited resources and harsh climatic
factors has been surviving for the millions of years. Although, the Schirmacher
ecosystem is a stable ecosystem until now, the result of why higher plants and
animal could not survive and adjust in this ecosystem, can be due to the unique
meteorological parameters dominating the other limiting factors for the
organisms to survive.
It is important to note that the convective condition over the SO provides
a favorable condition for the microorganism of this region to reproduce and
spread them in different area of the oasis as part of survival mechanisms
(Dutta et al., 2002). More information on the link between ecosystem structure
and function for long-term monitoring of Antarctic streams ecosystem is needed
(Niyogi et. al., 1997).
3. Conclusion
Study of atmospheric parameters in relation to the ecosystem over the SO
reveals that a unique ecosystem prevails over this oasis, where all the
physical and biological components interact in a complex cyclic pattern, in
which distinct food web pattern have been established.
The conclusions drawn from the experimental investigation of the
atmospheric studies using various instruments and methods are summarized.
1. The climate at Maitri is dominated by the extreme contrasts between
the seasonal inputs of solar radiation. It experiences sub-zero mean
temperature throughout the year except in the peak summer months (December and
January). The surface wind regime (annual mean 9.092 m/s) is dominated by
katabatic wind component from the southeast direction (110 to 1800), which is
the direction of maximum slope around the Maitri site. The dominance of the
katabatic wind component in the surface wind regime is clearly depicted by the
observation that for about 83% of the time winds have been observed to be from
the southeast. Pressure (annual average 986.5 mb) forms half yearly cycle and
influenced for the formation of cyclones. The humidity and precipitation are although
low but have significant relationship for the growth of microorganisms.
2. The monthly average surface air temperature observed at
Novolazarevskaya station shows that the temperature has significantly increased
during the last four decades by 1.11 0C (P<0.01), which is at the rate of
about 0.27 0C per decade. The summer (December-February) of this period also
shows a significant raise in temperature by about 0.99 0C (P=0.05), which is at
the rate of about 0.24 per decade increase. Hence, in the SO the surface air
temperature enhancement will certainly affect the function of ecosystem
dynamics.
3. The acoustic sounder at Maitri has given invaluable information about
the structure of atmospheric boundary layer with a variety of atmospheric phenomena.
They are:
i) Surface based inversions are the most predominant feature on sodar
echograms and have been observed for about 94.37% of the time, clearly
dominating over the convective activity which has been observed for only 5.63 %
of the time. The convective activity is mainly confined in the summer season
between 1200 to 1400 hr and is the most favorable period for the dispersal of
microorganisms.
ii) Short spells of winter warming enhancing surface air temperature by
even 15 0C have been measured. Such warming events may play an important role
in the sustenance of microorganisms from totally desiccating their body fluids.
4. The studies suggest that the ecosystem of Schirmacher Oasis must have
grown with some control of atmospheric parameters and high UV-B doses in
Antarctica. The maximum UV-B radiation of 3.998 MED/hr was recorded on December
1, 1998 and 2.806 MED/hr was recorded on October 27, 1999, both of which fall
almost in the middle of austral spring period. The UV-B recorded on the average
during the year 1999 was lower than in the year 1998. In both the years the
threshold limit of UV-B (1 MED/hr) was crossed during both spring and summer.
Thus, a profound effect on the flora and fauna is likely.
From these above points it is found that almost all the atmospheric
parameters are limiting the survival of normally living organisms, except for
cold hardiness ones. Thus, the diversity of the flora and fauna is poor and is
dominated only by microorganisms. The diminutive forms of plants and animal of
SO are also the result of less availability of nutrient, food and harsh
conditions of growth and survival. Therefore, only the cold tolerant varieties
of microorganisms have evolved with time. With all these limiting factors of
atmospheric parameters, the following ecosystem has been able to evolve and
survive:
i) SO ecosystem is heterogeneous in nature and the estimated biomass
production is low at a value of around 22.5 gm m-2. The food chain of SO is
very simple and short. The average organic carbon content of the oasis is
1.582%, which is very poor in comparison to any other ecosystem of the world.
The lakes are oligotrophic in nature and are of fresh water lakes.
ii) The energy cycle is poor in SO due to less sunlight during austral
winter.
iii) The microbial enzyme activity or dehydrogenase activity is poor
(average 0.0073 µg/ g soil/24 hr) suggesting a very less microbial activity of
substrate decomposition.
iv) About 34 species of primitive flora were observed and only 6
primitive invertebrate fauna were recorded. Only four species of birds were
observed in SO.
v) The migratory birds from sub-Antarctic islands to the SO may
introduce some non-indigenous forms of plants, animals and microorganisms
species, but only cold tolerant variety of organisms survive.
Finally, the flora and fauna, which comprises the ecological equivalents
of the Schirmacher Oasis, can be regarded as endemic species and therefore, it
needs a better understanding for its sustenance, growth, metabolic functions,
reproduction and survival in the global warming scenario penetrating the
periphery of Antarctica.
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