Indian Ocean’s Underwater Geographical Structures Being Named

August 12, 2024

Names proposed by India were selected to name three underwater geographical structures in the Indian Ocean by The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Underwater Geographical Structures

The worldwide ocean data is maintained and provided by the General Bathymetric Chart of Oceans operating under the IOC and IHO.

About The Underwater Structures

Two structures were named after the Mauryan dynasty Rulers ie. The Ashoka seamount and the Chandragupt ridge and the 3rd structure is named as Kalpataru ridge.
Discovery: All the three recently named structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa during the Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme
- Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme: It is an international survey exploration programme with NCPOR being the nodal agency in operation since 2004
  - These sea explorations aim at studying the bio-geochemistry, biodiversity, lower atmospheric processes, paleoclimate, hydrodynamics, air-sea interactions among a host of other research areas.
Location: The Structures are located along the Southwest Indian Ridge area of the Indian Ocean
Other India Proposed Structures: The Indian Ocean has seven structures at present which has been named as proposed by India.

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Structure	Discovered
Ashok Seamount:	The Indian research team with the help of the Russian Sea vessel Akademik Nikolay Strakhov discovered the seamount in 2012. The oval shaped structure spans over an area of 180 sqkm.
Kalpataru Ridge:	The Indian research team with the help of the Russian Sea vessel Akademik Nikolay Strakhov discovered the Ridge in 2012. It is an elongated area of 430 sq km. which may have supported marine life, habitat shelter and food for various species.
Chandragupt Ridge	Discovered in 2020 by the Indian ocean research vessel MGS Sagar It is an elongated and oval shaped body covering a total area of 675 sq km.
Raman Ridge:	It was discovered in 1951 by a US oil vessel. It was named after Physicist and Nobel Laureate Sir CV Raman in 1992.
Panikkar Seamount:	It was discovered in 1992 by India research vessel Sagar Kanya, the Seamount is named after NK Panikkar, a renowned oceanographer.
Sagar Kanya Seamount:	The structure is named after the research vessel Sagar Kanya in 1991, for completing its successful 22nd cruise in 1986 leading to its discovery.
DN Wadia Guyot:	The Guyot (underwater volcanic mountain) was named after geologist DN Wadia in 1993 when it was discovered in 1992 by Sagar Kanya.

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

It is an intergovernmental organization established in 1921 that works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted
Function: It coordinates the activities of national hydrographic offices and promotes uniformity in nautical charts and documents.
- It issues survey best practices, provides guidelines to maximize the use of hydrographic survey data and develops hydrographic capabilities in Member States.
Representation: States are represented within the IHO by the national authority responsible for the provision of hydrographic and nautical charting services in each Member State.

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

The body promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources.
Member States: The IOC is a 150 Member States body.
The IOC Secretariat: It is located in Paris, France
Focus Areas: The IOC work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science, tsunami warning and ocean literacy.
Objectives: Healthy ocean and sustained ocean ecosystem services; Effective warning systems and preparedness for tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards; Resilience to climate change and contribution to its mitigation; Scientifically-founded services for the sustainable ocean economy; Foresight on emerging ocean science issues.
The IOC is in charge of coordinating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, the “Ocean Decade”.

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