Relevance: GS Paper - III
News Excerpt:
To examine biodiversity and explore deep-sea resources, India's first manned Deep Ocean Mission, called "Samudrayaan", intends to send three people in a submersible down to a depth of six kilometers (6000m) in the ocean.
About DOM:
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It is India’s ambitious program, chiefly implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
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It is one of nine tasks implemented under the Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC).
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Supporting blue trade, blue manufacturing in India, and the blue economy priority area are critical priorities for DOM.
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It was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021 at a cost of nearly Rs 4,077 crore over five years in a phased manner.
Six pillars of the mission:
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Development of technologies:
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Creation of deep-sea mining technology and a manned submersible that can descend to 6,000 meters below the ocean's surface with three people on board.
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Various research instruments, sensors, and an integrated system for extracting polymetallic nodules from the central Indian Ocean.
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Ocean Climate Change advisory services:
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Building advisory services for ocean climate change that use a variety of ocean measurements and models to comprehend and forecast future climate.
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Technological innovations:
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Focus on technological advancements for the study and preservation of biodiversity in the deep sea.
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Identify potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulfide mineralization:
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Determination of potential areas for multi-metal hydrothermal sulfide mineralization throughout the mid-oceanic ridges of the Indian Ocean by deep-ocean survey and exploration.
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Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean:
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Exploration and development of devices to capture energy from oceanic sources, including thermal, wave, and tidal energy.
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Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology:
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Establishing a cutting-edge Marine Station for Ocean Biology as a center for developing talent and advancing new directions in blue biotechnology and ocean biology.
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Why has a depth of 6,000 m been chosen?
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India has committed to the sustainable exploitation of precious minerals, such as polymetallic sulfides and nodules.
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For this reason, ISA (International Seabed Authority) has given India 10,000 sq. km. at 26° S and a 75,000-sq.-km. area in the middle Indian Ocean.
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Polymetallic sulfides occur at around 3,000 m in the central Indian Ocean, while polymetallic nodules, which contain precious metals including copper, manganese, nickel, iron, and cobalt, are found at a depth of about 5,000 m.
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Therefore, our interests span depths of 3,000-5,500 m. By equipping ourselves to operate at a depth of 6,000 m, we can effectively cater to both the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and the central Indian Ocean.
Estimated Ocean Resources for India:
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Preliminary estimates indicate that the area allocated to us has 380 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of Polymetallic Nodules (PMN).
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It comprises Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese which are available within an allocated area of 75000 sq. km for exploration of PMN in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
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The estimated value of these metals is about 110 billion US$. The polymetallic sulfides are expected to contain rare earth minerals including gold and silver.
Challenges associated with the exploration of the deep oceans:
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High Pressure:
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An object of one square meter area below 1 meter underwater experiences a weight of around 10,000 kg, which is equivalent to a huge adult elephant.
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Requirement of meticulously designed equipment:
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Working in such high-pressure situations calls for the usage of carefully planned machinery made of durable metals or materials.
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Inadequately built equipment implodes or collapses inside the water.
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Incredibly soft and muddy surface at sea-bed:
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This factor renders it exceedingly difficult for heavy vehicles to land or maneuver, as they would inevitably sink.
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Extraction of minerals:
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The process of extracting resources necessitates pumping them to the surface, which is a power- and energy-intensive operation.
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Because there is no electromagnetic wave transmission in the deep water, remotely operated vehicles are useless there.
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Another major obstacle is visibility since natural light can only reach a few tens of meters below the surface.
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Others factors:
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Variations in temperature, corrosion, salinity, etc., all of which compound the problems.
Significance of MATSYA-6000 on the global front:
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It aims to reach the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 m.
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The submersible, which is driven by three crew members known as "aquanauts," is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments and apparatuses
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That will make it easier to conduct experiments, gather samples, make basic audio and video recordings, and make observations.
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Japan, France, China, Russia, and the United States have all completed successful deep-ocean crewed missions before.
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India is prepared to become one of these countries by showcasing its proficiency and ability to conduct crewed deep-ocean missions.
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It seamlessly combines the best and most feasible features of remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote vehicles (AUVs).
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Three people can travel within the 2.1-meter diameter specialized sphere that makes up the interior of Matsya-6000.
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The human sphere would be roughly 28 tonnes in weight and have a short-sleeved, life-supporting environment that removes carbon dioxide and supplies oxygen.
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The sphere is made of titanium alloy and designed to sustain pressures as high as 6,000 bar.
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It has three viewports that let the crew see its surroundings in real-time, and it has propellers that allow it to move in all six directions.
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Communication will be achieved through sound – an acoustic phone and modem.
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Importantly, it will not be actively lowered through sinking; instead, it will function as a free-floating system, for energy efficiency.
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It can move at a speed of about 5.5 km/hr using underwater thrusters, which is adequate.
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With Matsya, India will have the sole entire ecosystem of underwater vehicles, including deep-water ROVs, polar ROVs, AUVs, and deep-water coring systems.
Environmental impact of DOM:
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As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), various organisms reside here in harsh environments like low oxygen and sunshine levels, high pressure, and extremely cold temperatures.
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Even before they are discovered by science, these mining missions have the potential to wipe them off.
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The biodiversity and ecology of the deep water are still poorly understood, which makes it challenging to evaluate the effects on the ecosystem.
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As per Environmentalists, sediment plumes will be generated as the suspended particles can rise to the surface harming the filter feeders in the upper ocean layers.
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There are also concerns regarding the noise and light pollution from the mining vehicles and oil spills from the operating vessels.
Additional information: