Pathfinder project

THE Centre has just cleared an international study called Indoex to look into
the role of atmospheric aerosols (microscopic particles suspended in the atmos-
phere) of Indian origin that may be
causing global climatic changes. After
the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, this
effort on India's part is doscribed as an
attempt to investigate the phenomenon
of greenhouse effect and global warming, involving the world's finest scientific
institutions and experts.

Apart from scientists from the us,
France, Germany and The Netherlands,
Indoex will also involve major Indian
institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, department
of science, department of technology,
department of electronics and the Indian
Space Research Organisation and its
allied institutions. The Indian operations are being headed by A P Mitra,
senior Homi Bhaba Fellow and honorary scientist of eminence, National
Physics Laboratory. Mitra says that the
very definition of what constitutes global
climatic change may be totally reversed
after the project's completion.

The main work will start from 1999
winter. Apart from land operations and
research and experimental ocean cruises,
India's INSAT system data will be used
extensively in this project.