Indias Deep Ocean Mission

 

Why in News?

India is preparing for a historic Deep Ocean Mission to explore and exploit the vast ocean's unexplored depths, offering significant scientific and economic benefits.

• The U.S.A., Russia, China, France, and Japan have successfully completed deep-ocean crewed missions.

Deep Ocean Mission

1. About:

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is launching the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) to advance technologies and capabilities for deep sea exploration.

2. Key Pillars of the Mission:

• Technological advancements have significantly improved deep-sea mining and the use of crewed submersibles.
• Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services
• Innovations for Deep-Sea Biodiversity Exploration and Conservation
• The study focuses on the survey and exploration of deep-ocean minerals.
• The process involves extracting energy and freshwater from the ocean.
• The establishment of an advanced marine station for ocean biology is being initiated.

3. Major Advancement in DOM Objectives:

• India's Samudrayaan, a flagship deep ocean mission, was initiated in 2021 by the Minister of Earth Sciences as part of the Department of Oceanography (DOM).
• India is embarking on a groundbreaking crewed expedition, Samudrayaan, to reach a depth of 6,000 meters to the Central Indian Ocean's ocean bed.
• Matsya6000, a deep-ocean submersible designed for a crew of three, will embark on a historic journey.
• The sphere, made of titanium alloy, is designed to withstand pressures of up to 6,000 bar.

4. Varaha- India's Deep-Ocean Mining System:The National Institute of Ocean Technology, under MoES, successfully conducted deep-sea locomotion trials using 'Varaha,' an underwater mining system at 5,270 meters in the central Indian Ocean.

Major Challenges

1. Oceanic Pressure Challenges: High-pressure conditions in the deep ocean pose a significant challenge, putting immense pressure on objects weighing approximately 10,000kg per square meter.
2. Equipment Design and Functionality: Under harsh conditions, robust materials are crucial for equipment design, as electronics and instruments operate more efficiently in space or vacuum, while poorly designed objects can collapse or explode underwater.
3. Challenges of Landing: The ocean bed's soft and muddy surface poses significant challenges for heavy vehicles to land or maneuver.
4. Material Extraction and Power Demands: Extracting materials from the ocean floor requires significant power and energy to pump them to the surface

• Remotely operated vehicles are deemed ineffective in deep oceans due to the absence of electromagnetic wave propagation.
• Natural light's visibility is limited, reaching only a few meters underwater, unlike telescope-facilitated space observations.

Way Forward

1. Biologically-Inspired Designs: Draw inspiration from nature, such as marine organisms, for innovative engineering solutions.

• Biomimicry has the potential to create structures and materials that are naturally adapted to deep-sea conditions, enhancing their resilience and adaptability.

2. Energy Innovation: The goal is to create sustainable power sources that can sustain long-term missions.

• Advancements in energy harvesting technologies, such as ocean thermal energy conversion, temperature gradients in the ocean for power, and exploring tidal and wave energy potential.

3. Multi-Sensor Integration: The integration of various sensor technologies is being implemented to compensate for the limited visibility.

• The integration of sonar, lidar, and other imaging technologies could provide a comprehensive view of the deep-sea environment, enhancing navigation and exploration.

4. Environmental Impact Consideration: Ensuring that exploration initiatives are conducted with minimal impact on deep-sea ecosystems.

• The international regulation and policies governing deep-sea exploration aim to ensure responsible and ethical practices, balancing scientific advancement with environmental conservation..

 

 

 

Must Check: Best IAS Coaching In Delhi