NIOT ::::: Operational Programs > Ocean Observation Systems

Operational Programs > Ocean Observation Systems > Introduction

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Ocean observations have immense societal value through various climate and weather applications, including forecasts of droughts, tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, and projections of decadal to multidecadal climate variability and change. These observations provide information vital to the management of ocean ecosystems and human adaptation activities in response to climate variability and change. Time series observations are vital to improve the understanding of ocean dynamics and its variability.

The Ocean Observation Systems (OOS) group of NIOT is engaged in the establishment and maintenance of Data Buoy Network for measurement of met-ocean parameters in Indian Seas to monitor the Marine Environment and to improve weather and Ocean Forecasts. Considering the importance of continuous measurements, reliable and high quality data, MoES had constituted a National Expert Committee to evolve optimal number of buoys required for the programme and to identify strategic locations in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. On the recommendations of this committee, considering the importance of Upper Ocean data, the next generation buoy system called Ocean Moored buoy network for Northern Indian Ocean (OMNI) was evolved. Further, a Technical Evaluation Committee finalized the specification of the system and these moorings routinely measure ocean temperature, surface air temperature, humidity and wind at many locations. This data serves as a platform for salinity, currents, carbon dioxide, surface radiation, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall sensor.


Coastal Buoy Deployment at Andaman	OMNI, Met Ocean Buoys at Deep Sea Locations

Retrieval of Deep Sea Buoys

As challenges arise in the form of natural disasters such as Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, in spite of their infrequent occurrence, could be very devastating and can occur anytime without a notice. Though such disasters cannot be prevented, their impact can be mitigated with prior and proper planning. With this in view , OOS team has developed, tested and has established Tsunami Buoy system with Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR) in Indian Seas. These moored surface buoys, each with a surface communication relay and a Bottom Pressure Recorder (BPR) measures water pressure on the sea floor to calculate the height of the water column above it. The BPR is capable of detecting subtle water level fluctuations that might indicate passage of energy due to a tsunami and through the acoustic link between the BPR and surface buoy; it provides reports transmitted to land via the INMARSAT communication system. INSAT communication system is also tested and would be systematically implemented into these buoy systems.

Systematic real-time meteorological and oceanographic observations are necessary to improve oceanographic services and predictive capability of short and long-term climatic changes. Time series observations are vital to improve the understanding of ocean dynamics and its variability and are used to monitor the Marine Environment and to improve weather and Ocean state Forecast.

Considering the importance of ocean observations to the country like India having a long coastline of about 7500 km and a vast oceanic area of 2.02 million sq. km of EEZ available for exploitation. The Ocean Observation Systems (OOS) erstwhile National Data Buoy Programme was established in 1996 with the prime objective to operate maintain and develop moored buoy observational networks and related telecommunication facilities in Indian seas. OOS also monitors the overall efficiency of the observing systems and, as necessary, recommends and coordinate changes designed to improve it. OOS has inherited lead responsibility for a number of important and well-established observational programs.

As part of this integrated approach, a Tsunami Early Warning system has been established by utilizing and enhancing the existing observational network. The network of Tsunami buoys has been envisaged around the geological fault line in the Indian Ocean and the installation is in progress.

Objectives of the Programme

	Establishment and maintenance of Moored Data Buoy network in Indian seas.
	Real-time data collection of met-ocean parameters in Indian seas.
	Dissemination of data in real time to INCOIS.
	Establishment and maintenance of Tsunami buoy system and data dissemination to INCOIS.