For the first time in the history of Indian Polar Science Programme, the 19th Indian Scientific expedition to Antarctica was launched from Cape Town, South Africa, on 9th December 1999, keeping in view the likely scientific and economic benefits and future international cooperation in the field of polar science between India and other countries. This heralds another scientific feat in the realms of polar science at the end of this millennium and demonstrates the capabilities and interest of India to pursue a well-focused scientific campaign from a pristine scientific platform provided by Antarctica. The 19th Expedition to Antarctica consists of a 47 member team including 30 scientists and 17 logistic personnel, under the leadership of Mr. Arun Chaturvedi a scientist of Geological Survey of India, including a two member lady team – one medical Doctor from India and a Geologist from Peru. This includes a contingent of 25 members who will winter- over in Antarctica for 16 months duration in pursuit of science. The logistic support for the Expedition is being provided by a contingent of Army personnel, which is headed by Maj. Ravi Sangwan.

In addition to the ongoing programmes several new experiments have been initiated during the course of this expedition, which includes:

Study of earth-air current systems to give an insight to the deep space processes.

Experiments on crack propagation of the ice-shelf in order to understand the dynamics and processes of Iceberg generation.

Installation of a number of automatic weather stations to measure energy balance and albedo factors of the ice, as a part of global change studies.

Reconstruction of the past climatic and vegetative history through the study of organo-debris present in the fresh water lake sediments of Antarctica.

Establishment of an environment monitoring laboratory for the first time at Maitri in order to carry out an year round assessment of the status of air, noise, water biological and land environment of Antarctica.

The brief scientific and logistic activities of this expedition are as follows:

A. Atmospheric Sciences

Geomagnetic studies using fluxgate magnetometers and riometers

Climatological and Meteorological data archival

B. Earth Sciences

Geological mapping and Glaciological observations

Tele-seismic propagation studies

Planetary geodetic measurements

Topographical mapping

C. Global Change

Snow drift and albedo measurements

Generation & propagation of cracks on the ice-shelf

Palyno-stratigraphic studies of the lakes

D. Biological Sciences

Biodiversity of Bryophytes of Antarctica

Bio-ecological studies of invertebrate fauna

Microbial community structure by culture independent methods

E. Environment conservation

Environment impact assessment studies through assessment of existing status of air, noise, water, biological and land environment parameters.

Preparation of an effective environment management plan.

F. Human Biology

Ultra violet radiation and cold stress

Psycho-physiological investigations

G. Engineering & Communication

Structural engineering studies

Adaptive communication technologies

Wind energy utilization and application of fuel cells in Antarctica.

The summer team of the XIX expedition returned to India via Cape Town on 6th March, 2000 along with the winter team members of the XVIII expedition.

India has established a National Antarctic Data Centre at the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) at Goa, which will soon be linked with Antarctic Master Directory. The NCAOR established as a national endeavor to develop expertise and excellence in polar sciences and logistic activities would plan, co-ordinate and execute the entire scientific and logistic activities of Indian Antarctic programme besides encouraging cooperative/joint research projects both at national and international level, particularly in the field of global change.