What’s in the news?

• India is set to embark on its maiden winter expedition to the Arctic, making it the first Asian nation to stay at the northernmost polar region throughout the year.
• Since 2008, India operates a research base in the Arctic named Himadri (in the Ny-Alesund region of Svalbard, Norway), which has been mostly hosting scientists during the summer.
• The research areas of the latest expedition will include atmospheric sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, and climate studies. 

Significance

• Temperatures in the Arctic region have risen by about 4 degree Celsius on average over the last 100 years; 2023 was the warmest year on record. 
• The extent of Arctic sea-ice has been declining at the rate of 13 per cent/ decade. At this rate, the Arctic could become ice-free in less than 20 years.
• Rising sea levels can influence atmospheric circulation. An increase in tropical sea surface temperatures could lead to increased precipitation in the tropics, a shift in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, and high chances of an increase in extreme rainfall events.

• The study of this region is important to understand how it impacts the Indian monsoons and the tropical climate.