Understanding India's O-SMART Scheme for Ocean Research

O smart
The Umbrella theme “Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences got its approval from the cupboard on 29 August 2018.  The theme includes a complete of sixteen sub-projects addressing ocean development activities like Services, Technology, Resources, Observations and Science. Almost an year has passed since its approval so in this article, we are going to discuss what it i and how it benefits India.

BACKGROUND

Ministry of Earth Sciences
The ministry started implementing multi-disciplinary comes within the field of ocean development on an oversized scale chiefly to:
  1. offer a set of ocean info service,
  2. develop technology for sustainable harnessing of the ocean resources,
  3. promote front-ranking analysis, and
  4. conduct ocean scientific ocean survey
Some of the most effective analysis vessels like., technology demonstration vessel Sagarnidhi, oceanographic analysis vessel Sagarkanya, fisheries and oceanographic analysis vessel Sagarsampada and coastal analysis vessel Sagarpurvi are employed to produce needed analysis support.

DETAILS

Soon because the ministry recognised the necessity of implementing schemes that were extremely required within the ocean sector with relation to national interests and international commitment, it enclosed the present themes beneath umbrella scheme of (O-SMART). Asian nation feels the resources onto land aren't adequate enough to satisfy the demands for future generations, and that's why commencing on blue economy for effective and economical use of the huge ocean resources in a very property approach, which might need a good deal of knowledge on ocean science, development of technology and providing services. Further, the coastal analysis and marine multifariousness activities are vital to be continued conjointly within the context of achieving United Nations property Development Goal-14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for property development. This has been envisaged beneath the (O-SMART)scheme. The ocean information services and technologies being rendered and developed beneath the theme play a crucial role within the development activities over dozen sectors, operating within the marine setting together with the coastal states of Asian nation, tributary considerably to the value. 

What is Blue Economy?

The “blue economy” is basically a concept that looks forward to promote economic growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods of the oceans and at the same time  also ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas.
The chief outputs throughout subsequent two years create mentally embrace :
  1. strengthening of Ocean Observations and Modelling,
  2. strengthening of Ocean Services for Fishermen,
  3. putting in Marine Coastal Observatories for observation marine pollution in 2018, 
  4. putting in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant (OTEC) in Kavaratti,
  5. acquisition of two Coastal analysis Vessels for Coastal analysis,
  6. continuation of Ocean Survey and Exploration of Minerals and Living Resources,
  7. technology Development for Deep Ocean Mining- Deep Mining System and manned Submersibles, and
  8. putting in Six chemical process Plants in Lakshadweep.

How does it help?

  • Provide economic advantages to variety of user communities within the coastal and ocean sectors, namely, fisheries, offshore business, coastal states, Defense, Shipping, Ports etc. Currently, 5 lakhs fishermen community arr receiving this information daily through mobile which incorporates allocation of fish potential and native climate within the coastal waters. this may facilitate in reducing the search time for fishermen ensuing savings within the fuel value. 
  • Implementation of O-SMART can facilitate in addressing problems about property Development Goal-14, that aims to conserve use of oceans, marine resources for property development. 
  • This theme (O-SMART) conjointly offer necessary scientific and technological background needed for implementation of assorted aspects of Blue Economy. 
  • The State of Art Early Warning Systems established underneath the O-SMART theme can facilitate in effectively managing ocean disasters like wave, storm surges. 
  • The technologies being developed underneath this theme can facilitate in harnessing the Brobdingnagian ocean resources of each living and non-living resources from the seas around India.

Poly-Metallic Nodules (PMN)

Polymetallic nodules are basically rock concretions formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core. The core may be microscopically small and is sometimes completely transformed into manganese minerals by crystallisation. For this reason, they are also called manganese nodules.
Manganese Nodules
Main genetic types of nodules: H – hydrogenetic, HD – hydrogenetic-diagenetic and D – diagenetic.
Polymetallic nodules contain multiple metals like copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, lead, zinc, aluminium, silver, gold and platinum etc. in variable constitutions and are precipitate of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from the deep interior of the oceanic crust.
Mining for Polymetallic nodules is of strategic importance for India as there are no terrestrial sources of these metals in India. 


Hola people! I am Arya Kapoor. I am an English hons. student pursuing the course from University of Delhi. I have a keen interest in science and technology as well as I love writing, may it be contents for any social cause or current affairs etc. People who hang around with me find me singing the whole day long.

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