The monsoon varies over intra-seasonal, inter-annual and multi-decadal time-scales—with the inter-annual variability being the most relevant to the season. Droughts and floods associated with this variability adversely impact agriculture, water resources and eventually, the Indian economy.

Coastal landforms constitute erosional or depositional features. Sea cliff, sea caves, sea arches etc., are erosional landforms whereas landforms such as beach, bar, barrier are depositional in nature.

Himalayan glaciers influence the water regimes of major river systems in Asia and help sustain more than a billion people from several countries. Changing climate is threatening the health of Himalayan glaciers and potentially increasing hazards like glacier lake outburst flood, avalanches and landslides.

The Arctic holds special importance for India as the Indian monsoon and Arctic processes are intricately connected. The First Indian scientific expedition to the Arctic was launched in 2007 which led to establishment of ‘Himadri’ in Ny-Ålesund in 2008. India joined the International Arctic Science Committee in 2012 and is an Observer in the Arctic Council since 2013.

India is making major advances in polar research. At the same time, it is also inspiring the younger generation to work in this sector. Polar outreach activities are aimed to connect teachers, students and citizens and help enthusiastic scientists, educators and communicators take an active interest in Polar research.

Globally, there is a serious resource gap in financing biodiversity conservation. Access and benefit sharing provides for an innovative financial mechanism. In India the mechanism has helped mobilise around INR 110 crore.

The risk of climate change is universal but the poor are more vulnerable with worsening food security and exacerbating hunger in developing countries. Climate change is also likely to affect species distribution and increase the threat of extinction and loss of biodiversity.

The 7,500 km long Indian coastline faces severe threats from the process of coastal erosion. The National Institute of Ocean Technology, through data collection, scientific modelling and engineering activities, has attempted to protect several coastlines of which the Kadalur Periyakuppam coast is one.

The 7,500 kms long Indian coastline is dotted with many major and minor ports. The temporal increase in the volume of cargo is also indicative of the rising emissions by ships which NIOT is trying to minimise using innovative strategies.