INCOIS to issue Indian Ocean current forecasts from next year

In a first initiative of its kind in the country, scientists would start issuing forecasts for surface currents of Indian Ocean from next year.

In a first initiative of its kind in the country, scientists would start issuing forecasts for surface currents of Indian Ocean from next year.

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The government has identified Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), which runs the tsunami warning system, for the purpose.

Knowledge of surface ocean currents is essential for shipping, fishery and related sectors as an accurate information of the behaviour of the sea could help reduce fuel costs.

A high computing system is being installed at INCOIS to enable scientists to process data from various earth observation systems, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary Shailesh Nayak told PTI.

He said INCOIS would start issuing ocean current forecasts for the entire Indian Ocean next year. The forecasts would also help scientists study the way heat transfer takes place in the Indian Ocean.

Information of ocean currents was crucial in the sail ship era and it had helped seafarers launch successful expeditions.

It was the lack of knowledge about ocean currents that long prevented the Portuguese from 'discovering' India in the 15th century.