Deep ocean gliders, manned vehicles for ocean mission

India has plans to introduce eight deep ocean gliders having 6-12 months endurance to travel from 3,000 km to 4,500 km, about 48 deep Argo floats at 6,000-metre depth at 24 locations and another 150 wave drifters to strengthen the capacity of observations in the Indian Ocean as part of its 'Deep Ocean Mission', informed secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences M. Ravichandran. “With the help of these in situ and satellite data” of sea temperatures, currents, salinity etc., “we are trying to predict as much accurate as possible the various climatic conditions and the monsoons,” he said, addressing the International Indian Ocean Conference organised by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services which concluded on Friday. Pointing out that “oceans are key to understanding the climate in securing lives and livelihoods due to vast coastline”, he said the Government is drafting a policy on ‘Blue Economy’ of which the ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ forms an integral part for which about ₹4,077 crore has been committed over a five year period. “Indian Ocean is the least studied from among the oceans and there is need for nations to put priority for sustainable ocean planning and development,” said Unesco’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission executive secretary Vladimir Ryabinin.