Three Indian Ocean structures named Ashoka, Chandragupt and Kalpataru

08/09/2024

New Delhi, Aug. 9: Three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean have been awarded names proposed by India.

Named after the rulers of the Mauryan dynasty are the Ashoka seamount and the Chandragupt ridge. Kalpataru ridge is the third structure for which the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) have recently awarded names originally proposed by India.

In all, there are now seven structures in the Indian Ocean named mainly after Indian scientists or bear names proposed by India in this region of the Indian Ocean.

According to the Indian Media, All the three recently named structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa. These are located along the Southwest Indian Ridge area of the Indian Ocean and were discovered during an international survey exploration programme.

Since 2004, India has been undertaking the Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme with NCPOR being the nodal agency. These sea explorations aim at studying the bio-geochemistry, biodiversity, lower atmospheric processes, paleoclimate, hydrodynamics, air-sea interactions among a host of other research areas.

It was with the help of the Russian Sea vessel Akademik Nikolay Strakhov that the Indian research team discovered the Ashok seamount in 2012. The oval shaped structure spans over an area of 180 sqkm. Also discovered by the same Russian vessel in 2012 was the elongated Kalpataru ridge which is spread over an area of 430 sq km. Experts said that this ridge may have supported marine life, habitat shelter and food for various species. Discovered in 2020 by the Indian ocean research vessel MGS Sagar, the Chandragupt ridge is an elongated and oval shaped body covering a total area of 675 sq km.

The worldwide ocean data is maintained and provided by the General Bathymetric Chart of Oceans operating under the IOC and IHO.

Previously, other structures bearing Indian names include the Raman ridge (accepted in 1992), discovered in 1951 by a US oil vessel. It was named after Physicist and Nobel Laureate Sir CV Raman. In 1992, the Panikkar Seamount (accepted in 1993) was discovered by India research vessel Sagar Kanya. It is named after NK Panikkar, a renowned oceanographer. For its successful 22nd cruise in 1986 leading to its discovery, a seamount was named after the research vessel Sagar Kanya (accepted in 1991) itself. Geologist DN Wadia was honoured when an underwater volcanic mountain, known as guyot, was named after him in 1993 following its discovery in 1992 by Sagar Kanya.

Related News

China, Pakistan and Russia trying to figure out what to do with Taliban, says Biden

Washington, Sept. 8: China, Pakistan, Russia and Iran are trying to figure out what do they do now with the Taliban, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. Hours after the Taliban announced the details of its interim government, Biden told reporters that China had a "real problem" with the…

Indo-Canadian lawmaker condemns killing of Indian youth, says fight to eradicate racism must continue

Toronto, Sept. 9: An Indo-Canadian lawmaker on Thursday condemned the murder of an Indian youth in Canada’s Nova Scotia province, saying hate, violence and racism have no place in the country and the fight to eradicate these menaces must continue. Prabhjot Singh Katri, 23, was found murdered at an apartment…

Interim Taliban govt does not reflect what international community hoped to see: US

Washington, Sept. 10: The interim Taliban government does not reflect what the international community and the United States hoped to see, the Biden Administration said on Thursday. "We have spoken about our reaction to the initial caretaker government. You have heard us say that the lack of inclusivity, the track…

India, Australia emphasise on importance of combating terrorism without compromise

New Delhi, Sept. 11: In a high-level foreign and defence ministerial dialogue, India and Australia on Saturday set out an ambitious framework for defence with Afghanistan as a major subject of discussion. During the inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and their…

Afghan musicians flee Kabul, fearing for their lives and dire future for art under Taliban rule

Peshawar, Sept. 12: Ashraf Gulzar, an Afghan singer, mentioned the Taliban have banned all music programmes in Kabul which is a matter of concern for the individuals related to the music trade. The scheduled music occasions organized with Pakistani artists in Kabul, Jalalabad, and different large cities of Afghanistan have…

Taliban breaking promises, including over women, says UN

Geneva, Sept. 13: Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have contradicted public promises on rights, including by ordering women to stay at home, blocking teenage girls from school and holding house-to-house searches for former foes, a United Nations official said on Monday. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Afghanistan was in…

Video

Find Us on Facebook

From Social

Tehran, June 21: As India presses ahead with Operation Sindhu to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid intensifying hostilities in the Middle East, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has announced that, upon formal requests from the governments of Nepal and Sri…

India to evacuate Nepalese, Sri Lankan nationals from Iran amid escalating tensions    

Kathmandu, Nov. 24: The joint training exercise "SURYA KIRAN-XVII" of Nepali Army and Indian Army is starting from 24 November 2023 in Pithoragarh, India. The Nepalese army team that will participate in the exercise, which will be attended by the…

Nepal-India Joint Military Training Excerise Surya Kiran Begin Today    

New Delhi, May 5: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the guest of honour for this year’s Bastille Day Parade in Paris scheduled to take place on July 14.  In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of…

Indian PM Modi to attend Bastille Day Parade in Paris as guest of honour on July 14