Syllabus

Overview of Polar Geography and Climate; History of Indian Antarctic programme; Physical
characteristics; weather and climate, ice coring in Antarctica for Paleo-environment studies,
logistics of Antarctic Science, opportunities, Antarctic governance and protection of Antarctic
environment, International linkages.
Ice characteristics and physical oceanography of polar seas; Sea ice: types, physical and
mechanical properties, heat flux, temporal and spatial distribution, melting and freezing processes,
forecasting models, and remote sensing of ice/snow covered surfaces. Physical oceanography of
currents and water masses, deep and bottom water formation, fronts and eddies, polynya processes,
and underwater acoustics.
Operational aspects of Arctic and Antarctic meteorology, including polar lows, boundary layer
and marginal ice zone influences.
Polar oceanography: Sea ice amount, seasonal distribution, melting and freezing processes,
physical and mechanical properties, drift and predictions. Physical oceanography of currents and
water masses, deep and bottom water formation, fronts and eddies