National Institute of Oceanography Annual

ANNUAL REPORT 1988-89 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY Dona Paula, Goa- 403 004, India NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY Dona Paula - 403 004 Goa, India. Grams : OCEANOLOGY, PANAJI Telephones:6253,6254,6255, 6256 & 5988 Telex. 0194-216 NIO IN 4612 (Director's Off.) 0194-316 MGG IN 4906 (Directors Res.) REGIONAL CENTRES National Institute of Oceanography Regional Centre Telephones:6263773,6264807 Grams : OCEANOLOGY BOMBAY. Sea Shell Building Telex .011 -78419 NIO B Seven Bungalows Versova Bombay - 400 061 National Institute of Oceanography Regional Centre Telephone:360306 Vidyaniketan Annex Building Grams : OCEANOLOGY ERNAKULAM Providence Road Telex : 885-6399 NIO IN Ernakulam Cochin - 682 018 National Institute of Oceanography Telephone : 69794 Regional Centre Grams : OSTECHLAB VISAKHAPATNAM 52, Kirlampudi Layout Telex : 495-580 NIOW IN Visakhapatnam - 530 023 Cover Photograph : Gorgonians in the Andaman Sea (Underwater photograph) ANNUAL REPORT 24 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) Dona Paula - 403 004 Goa, India. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY Director, National Institute of Oceanography COMPILED AND EDITED BY Publication and Reprography Section EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Shri V. Kesava Das Smt. R. Thomas Shri S.P. Sharma Smt. C. Ribeiro PRINTED BY Sudarsan Graphics, 14, Neelakanta Mehta St., Madras - 600 017. CONTENTS 1 Director's Report 4 7 Highlights 13 3. List of Projects 18 4. R & D Activities 19 4.1 Physical Oceanography 19 4.2 Chemical Oceanography 26 4.3 Geological Oceanography 34 4.4 Biological Oceanography 40 4.5 Marine Corrosion & Materials Research 50 4.6 Integrated Studies of Estuaries 56 4.7 Ocean Engineering 58 4.8 Marine Instrumentation 64 4.9 Surveys for Polymetallic Nodules 68 4.10 Antarctic Oceanography 70 4.11 Marine Archaeology 73 4.12 Data and Information 75 4.13 Publications and Public Relations 80 4.14 Training 82 4.15 Planning 87 5. International/Bilateral Programmes 88 6. Sponsored Projects 93 7. Oceanographic Cruises 99 8. Infrastructure 107 9. Visitors 113 10. Awards, Honours and Memberships 115 11. Deputations 124 12. Workshops/Seminars/Symposia organised at NIO 128 13. Publications 133 14. Papers presented in Conferences, Seminars, etc. 146 15. Budget 150 16. Composition of various Committees of NIO 151 17. Appointments/Transfers/Resignations 160 18. Scientific, Technical and Administrative Staff 162 !ANNUAL REPORT 1988-89 N.I.O 1 ANNUAL REPORT N.I.0 1988-89 2 DIRECTORS REPORT 1988-89 N.I.O 3 ANNUAL REPORT N.I.O 1988-89 DIRECTOR'S REPORT The year 1988-89 has been encouraging in view of the accomplishments in various fields of activities of the Institute. The continuing efforts to earn through contract research have yielded significant increase in the quantum of earning. During the year, major thrust was given to the R & D programme on the oceanographic studies in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India. Most of the cruises of RV Gaveshani and ORV Sagar Kanya were devoted for the work in the EEZ to fill up the spatial and temporal gaps in data. Eventhough the EEZ along the west coast is more or less covered, seasonal coverage was inadequate. Hence the attempt during the year was to collect data for one complete season along the west coast and partially along the east coast. It is hoped that the EEZ along the east coast will be covered by the end of VII plan at least for one season. It has been planned that during the VIII plan period the entire EEZ of India will be covered and data for all seasons collected. During the previous year an EEZ Atlas was published based on the available data. This year continuing with the programme on mapping the resources of the EEZ, geochemical maps showing the distribution of elements, in the entire western continental margin and magnetic anomaly maps for the central east coast have been prepared. The project on polymetallic nodules from the Central Indian Ocean funded by DOD has been continued. This year, efforts were concentrated on processing and analysis of the data collected earlier and publication of the results. Action was also taken to procure a sophisticated equipment "Multibeam Swath Mapping System" with a view to carry out a very close grid survey in the target area. Besides, environmental studies in the 3rea allotted to India have been initiated. It is planned that during 1989-90, more detailed studies would be carried out as required under the regulations of the International Sea-bed Authority for developing the mining site. NIO continued its active participation in the Antarctic research. Two scientists from NIO were mem- bers of the 8th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica which returned on 26th March, 1989. Out of the two, one stays on at Antarctica for carrying out work during the winter. This year saw the implementation of the first phase of the Indo-USSR collaboration in oceanographic research. Under this programme two cruises, one each on board USSR Vessel Akademik Korolev and ORV Sagar Kanya were undertaken in the western Arabian Sea for studies on monsoon dynamics and two cruises on board Russian Vessels and one cruise on Board ORV Sagar Kanya for studies on Trans-Indian Ocean Geo-Traverses. Apart from these a few Russian scientists have worked at NIO as visiting scientists. On a reciprocal basis a few scientists from NIO also visited the oceanographic institutes in the USSR. Other ongoing bilateral programmes with USA on "Bio-active substances from the Indian Ocean" and "Accelerated corrosion", and with FRG on "Quaternary upwelling and climate in the Arabian Sea" also progressed satisfactorily. Under the Indo-FRG programme three sediment trap moorings deployed in the Arabian Sea were recovered and redeployed during the year. The Working Groups on Indo-USSR and Indo-US programmes met in India whereas the Working Group on Indo-FRG met in FRG during the year, for assessing the progress and reviewing the future programmes. The Indo-NORAD collaboration on 'Coastal Zone Management' came to an end this year after successful completion of all programmes. In this connection an Indo-NORAD Workshop was held at NIO where a review in retrospect was carried out. An important step was taken to increase our capability in handling and processing large amount of data by commissioning a new computer system ND-570 along with large memory, array processors and 4 DIRECTORS REPORT 1988-89 N.I.O accessories. This has enhanced the capability of the Institute in several fields especially in processing the seismic data. The seismic data collected on board Sagar Kanya is now being processed in-house with specially equipped processing software. The computer system and utilities have been relocated in a new building completed recently for the purpose. The newly constituted Research Council (RC) had two sittings during the year. The ongoing programmes of the Institute were evaluated through a peer review in July, 1988 and the VIII five year plan proposals were finalised as a result of the concerted efforts of the RC and peer groups. In addition, a Perspective Plan for the Year 2000 AD has also been prepared. Apart from the regular R&D programmes, the Institute has undertaken 16 sponsored and consul- tancy projects and 8 grant-in-aid projects during the year. One of the major projects undertaken was at the request of the Nuclear Power Corporation in connection with the establishment of a Nuclear Power Plant at Jaitapur. NIO has also collected high precision gravity data in the Bombay High and adjoining areas for locat- ing oil bearing strata under the sponsorship of ONGC. Another important project taken up was for the Indian Navy to develop a major Naval Base at Karwar on the west coast of India. Research Vessels Gaveshani and Sagar Kanya have successfully completed 17 and 11 cruises respectively in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal during the year. Although it is unavoidable, it gives a rather sad feeling to mention here that RV Gaveshani, the first multidisciplinary oceanographic Research Vessel in the country which has completed 210 cruises successfully under all weather conditions has to be decommis- sioned in the course of the next year. The more than expected performance of this vessel, built at the Garden Reach Workshop at Calcutta and commissioned in 1976, has given tremendous impetus to oceanographic research in India leading to the development of much of the existing capability of the Institute. About 162 research papers were published during the year. An analysis of the publications during the last few years shows a definite increasing trend of publications in reputed international journals. Several training programmes were conducted for the benefit of scientists from NIO as well as outside. As a part of the nation-wide survey of pollutants in the seas around India, training on intercalibration, pollution monitoring techniques etc. was given to research workers from 15 organisations. A national training programme on 'Satellite Oceanography' was also organised for the benefit of 27 participants from various organisations. Several scientists from NIO were deputed for training, participation in seminars and symposia in India and abroad. Under the UNDP assistance programme alone, 7 scientists underwent advanced training abroad on remote sensing techniques. NIO has participated in several exhibitions during the year including the Indian Trade Fair in Mauritius, Indian Science Congress at Madurai, S & T Exhibition at Gauriganj, etc. besides publicising the activities and achievements of the Institute through mass media and observing open house on CSIR Founda- tion Day and National Science Day. During the year the earning of the Institute has increased considerably. Against the Institute's budget of Rs. 460 lakhs, an amount of Rs. 476 lakhs has been earned from outside agencies which constitutes about 103.5% of the budget.

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