Lok Sabha Question No. 800 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: ISRO and NASA Collaboration
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## 800.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.800

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

## ISRO AND NASA COLLABORATION

- 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 longterm 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  help  in  taking  measures  to  minimise  loss  of human lives.

- (d) Yes Madam. As per the information received, Indian Institute of Tropical  Meteorology  (IITM)  under  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences (MoES) has been working in tandem with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA) for development of high resolution seasonal and long-term climate forecasts through Monsoon Mission and Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR) Programmes.  During  2010  to  2015,  IITM  and  NOAA  together developed  high  resolution  models  for  seasonal  predictions  of Indian Summer Monsoon and long term climate forecasts under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU, concerning the study of 'Dynamical Short range, Extended Range and seasonal Prediction of Indian Summer  Monsoon Rainfall', has been extended  till  2020,  within  the  framework  of  the  MoES-NOAA Partnership.
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