Journal of Ecophysiology & Occupational Health
  • Year: 2007
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 3 & 4

A unique plant over Schirmacher region, East Antarctica: signature of the beginning of global warming?

  • Author:
  • H.N. Dutta1, Kh. Gajananda1, Ved Parkash2, Naval Kishore2, Jaswant Singh3, Victor Lagun4
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 119 to 123

1National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi-110012.

2Department of Applied Physics, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar-125001.

3Deptt. of Environmental Sciences, Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University, Faizabad, (U.P.), India.

4Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, St Petersburg, Russia.

Abstract

India started its Antarctic research at the Maitri station in the year 1987–88. This station has been built over a small hilly oasis region (Schirmacher oasis) which is situated at the periphery of east Antarctica. This region has been known for its extreme weather conditions and extremely poor availability of nutrients to support the growth of any plant species, except the primary plants like mosses, lichens and algae. During the 25th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, contrary to all previous expectations, a plant growing on the backside of the Maitri station has been sighted, indicating the first visual sign of the impact of global warming over the Schirmacher region, Antarctica.

Keywords

Antarctica, Global warming, Plants, Seeds