Scientists Say India's 'Deep Sea Mission' on Track; Hydrothermal Vent Discovery Just the Beginning

The country's top scientists say, "The discovery of an active hydrothermal vent 4,500 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean this month will boost scientists' confidence"

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NEW DELHI: India's Deep Sea Mission is on the right track, and the discovery of an active hydrothermal vent 4,500 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean this month will boost scientists' confidence and provide valuable experience for further exploration, the country's top scientists have said.

In an interview, Thamban Meloth, Director of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), said this is just the beginning.

In a groundbreaking achievement, a team of Indian scientists from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the NCPOR captured the first image of an active hydrothermal vent located 4,500 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean around a week ago.

This is a major milestone in India's ambitious Rs 4,000-crore Deep Ocean Mission, aimed at exploring uncharted depths of the ocean to find new minerals and life forms and improve understanding of the ocean's role in climate change.