Increase in Temperature of Arctic Ocean

RAJYA SABHA

Government has set up a network of about 50 tidal gauges all along Indian coast line for continuous monitoring of sea level. Besides, Coastal zone vulnerability zonation maps are being generated for various sectors along the Indian Coast.

Reports indicate that the sea surface temperatures (SST) and the upper ocean heat content in the Arctic Ocean have been steadily increasing. Few climate stations that have records extending back beyond 50 years, indicate that the Arctic region warmed up by about 1-20C between 1910 and 1945. A number of stations showed further warming over the past two decades. The SST recorded in 2007, is reported to have been about 3.50C warmer than the 100 year average.

The average volume of Arctic Ice is 20,000 Km3, compared to the Antarctic Ice volume (30,000,000 Km3). Since the quantity of ice in Arctic is very small compared to Antarctic, Arctic sea ice melting does not increase the water level of the oceans significantly.

Since melting of the ice cover on the Arctic Ocean does not affect sea level significantly, the coastal areas will not be adversely affected.

This information was given by Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal, in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: Press Inormation Bureau
Date: March 12, 2008