Jalpaiguri researcher Pritam Chakraborty, returns after 400-day Antarctica mission
Jalpaiguri: Pritam Chakraborty, a young meteorologist from Jalpaiguri, has returned home after a remarkable 400-day research mission in Antarctica.
As part of a 22-member team under the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), he conducted critical climate studies at Bharati Station. The expedition, organised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, explored Antarctica’s unique climate and its global significance. Bharati Station experiences extreme weather, with temperatures averaging minus 34 degrees Celsius and dropping to minus 55 degrees during 150 km/h wind gusts. Despite these conditions, the team worked round the clock, gathering crucial data on weather changes and ice dynamics. “Antarctica is a pristine, ice-covered continent, untouched by tourism or urbanisation. It offers a glimpse into Earth’s ancient past, including the Ice Age and Gondwanaland, when it was connected to India,” Pritam shared.
Antarctica’s environment is unlike anywhere else. From November to mid-January, it remains in perpetual daylight, while mid-May to mid-July is shrouded in total darkness. The ice sheet in some areas is 2.5 to 3 kilometres thick.
“We worked in shifts to maintain 24-hour research, battling harsh conditions. Sunlight here is so intense that it can cause severe sunburn without protective clothing,” Pritam elaborated.
Bharati Station offered respite from the freezing temperatures, maintaining indoor conditions between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. During his free time, Pritam enjoyed reading, indoor games, and moments of reflection in the station’s library. Strict environmental protocols were followed to protect Antarctica’s ecosystem. Researchers could not bring back soil or minerals and observe wildlife, such as penguins and seals, only from a distance. Even tourism, though rare, is highly regulated to minimise human impact.
Among the highlights of his journey was witnessing the aurora australis, a dazzling natural light display caused by the collision of solar particles with oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere.
“The night sky would burst into vibrant colours, creating a breathtaking spectacle unique to Antarctica. Antarctica is serene and untouched, free from urbanisation or noise. Its natural rhythm of ice accumulation and melting remains undisturbed,” Pritam said, hoping Antarctica will continue to inspire scientific discovery and remain a symbol of natural beauty.
