Why in the news?

India and the US have decided to reactivate the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS).

What is IndOOS?

• Established in 2006, the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS) comprises moored buoys strategically placed across the Indian Ocean.
• It consists of a network of 36 moored buoys in the high seas to collect high-resolution ocean and atmospheric data for weather forecasts.
• These buoys measure various parameters like seawater temperature, salinity, ocean currents, atmospheric humidity, and wind speed.
• IndOOS originally focused on understanding and predicting the monsoon.
• It now aids in climate modelling under changing climatic conditions and predicts extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and cyclones.

Objectives of IndOOS include:

1. The primary objective of IndOOS is to provide continuous and high-quality oceanographic and meteorological data to support informed decision-making and improve scientific understanding of weather and climate.
2. It aims to foster partnerships among Indian Ocean countries and beyond to enhance long-term monitoring and forecasting capabilities.

Need for IndOOS

• The Indian Ocean region, home to nearly one-third of the global population, faces significant vulnerabilities due to climate change and extreme weather events.
• Fisheries and rain-dependent agriculture in these regions are heavily influenced by the monsoon, making accurate weather forecasts crucial for mitigating potential damage to crops and livelihoods.
• The Indian Ocean’s influence extends beyond its boundaries, redistributing heat across the planet and modulating the climate in the Pacific, North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Observing Networks under IndOOS

• The framework for IndOOS comprises five observing networks:

1. Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA)
2. Profiling floats (part of the global Argo array)
3. Surface drifters (Global Drifter Program, GDP)
4. Repeat temperature lines (eXpendable Bathy Thermograph (XBT) network)
5. Tide gauges

• These networks are complemented by satellite observations of surface wind, sea level, temperature, salinity, rainfall, and ocean color.

Partnerships and Support:

• IndOOS originated from discussions among scientists during the First International Conference on the Ocean Observing System for Climate (OceanObs) in 1999.
• An implementation plan for IndOOS was developed by the Indian Ocean Panel, established under the Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change (CLIVAR) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission – Global Ocean Observing System (IOC-GOOS) programs.

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Why in the news?

• The White House directed NASA to establish a time standard for the Moon, named Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) by the end of 2026.
• This move aims to facilitate coordination among international bodies and private companies operating on the lunar surface.

Timekeeping on the Moon

• The Moon has its own day and night cycle, which lasts about 29.5 Earth days.
• Currently, the time on the Moon is measured using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is the same timekeeping system used on the Earth.
• However, because the Moon’s day is much longer than Earth’s day, it would be difficult to use UTC for day-to-day activities on the Moon.

Need for a Lunar Time Standard

1. Earth’s Time Standard:

• Earth’s time standard is primarily based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), set by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris, France.
• UTC is determined by a weighted average of over 400 atomic clocks worldwide, providing a universally agreed-upon standard for time measurement.

2. Challenges with Earth’s Time Standard on the Moon:

• Time on the Moon differs from Earth due to factors like gravity and the Moon’s rotation.
• Time on the Moon ticks slightly faster due to lower gravity (about 56 microseconds every day) as per Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.

Establishing a Lunar Time Standard:

1. Technical Considerations:

• LTC cannot be based on UTC due to the time differences between Earth and the Moon.
• Current lunar missions operate on independent timescales linked to UTC, but this approach becomes challenging with multiple space crafts on the Moon.

2. Deployment of Atomic Clocks:

• Like on Earth, atomic clocks can be deployed on the lunar surface to establish a time standard.
• A 2023 report suggests placing at least three atomic clocks on the Moon’s surface, accounting for variations in lunar rotation and local gravity.

3. Synthesizing Time Measurements:

• Atomic clocks placed at different lunar locations will tick at the Moon’s natural pace.
• Output from these clocks will be combined using algorithms to generate a unified time standard for the Moon, tied back to UTC for Earth operations.

Benefits offered by Lunar Time

• Having a lunar time zone would also make it easier for scientists and researchers to conduct experiments and collect data on the Moon.
• It would also help to prevent confusion and errors that could arise from using different timekeeping systems on Earth and the Moon.

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