Lok Sabha Question No. 4427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: ISRO-NASA Collaboration
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4427

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017

## ISRO-NASA COLLABORATION

## 4427.   SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether ISRO and NASA are undertaking a joint study of the global  ecosystem  and  climate  change  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  ISRO  and  NASA  have  any  proposal    to    jointly undertake    the  development  of  a  synthetic  aperture  radar satellite to observe and monitor disturbances to the ecosystems, ice-sheet collapses and natural hazards and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  data  gathered  from  this  mission  will  help  build climate resilience with the potential of saving human lives in the  event  of  natural  calamities  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Indian  Institute  of  Tropical  Meteorology  is  also working in tandem with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop high resolution seasonal and long-term climate forecasts and if so, the details thereof?
- (a)

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- No Madam.
- (b) Yes Madam. ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/ NASA are jointly  working  on  the  development  of  Dual  Frequency  (L  &  S band)  Synthetic  Aperture  Radar  Imaging  Satellite  named  as NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). The L-band SAR is being developed by JPL/ NASA, while ISRO is developing S-band SAR. The L & S band microwave data obtained from this satellite will  be  useful  for  variety  of  application,  which  include  natural resources mapping & monitoring; estimating agricultural biomass over full duration of crop cycle; assessing soil moisture; monitoring  of  floods  and  oil  slicks;  coastal  erosion,  coastline changes  &  variation  of  winds  in  coastal  waters;  assessment  of mangroves;  surface  deformation  studies,  ice  sheet  collapses  & dynamics etc.
- (c) The data obtained from NISAR mission is not meant for building climate resilience. However, the data acquired from this mission will be useful in developing certain applications, which include - (i) identifying crevasses in the glaciers hidden by fresh snow, where human  movement  takes  place,  (ii)  identifying  the  snowpack parameters  as  an  input  in  Avalanche  forecasts,  (iii)  studying Glacial  Lake  Outburst  Floods  (GLOF)  hazards,  (iv)  identifying

inundated area due to floods/ cyclones. These applications could Yes Madam. As per the information received, Indian Institute of Tropical  Meteorology  (IITM)  under  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences (MoES)  has  been  working  with  National  Oceanographic  and Atmospheric  Administration  (NOAA)  to  develop  high  resolution seasonal and long-term climate forecasts. During 2010 to 2015, IITM  and  NOAA  together  developed  high  resolution  Models  for seasonal climate predictions of Indian Summer Monsoon and long term  climate  forecasts  under  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding. Extension of this MoU till 2020 to further pursue such studies is help in taking measures to minimize loss of human lives. (d) under consideration. *****