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Naming of Three New Underwater Structures in Indian Ocean

  • 09 Aug 2024

In August, 2024, India successfully named three underwater geographical structures in the Indian Ocean, following proposals submitted by the country.

Key Points

  • New Names: The Ashoka seamount and the Chandragupt ridge, named after Mauryan dynasty rulers, and the Kalpataru ridge are the latest structures to be officially named.
  • Discovery Details: These structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) during an international survey.
  • The Ashoka seamount and Kalpataru ridge were discovered in 2012 using the Russian vessel Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, while the Chandragupt ridge was found in 2020 by the Indian vessel MGS Sagar.
  • Previous Names: India has previously named other underwater structures in the Indian Ocean, including the Raman ridge (1992), the Panikkar Seamount (1993), and the Sagar Kanya seamount (1991). These names honour Indian scientists and research vessels.
  • Research Program: The Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme, managed by NCPOR since 2004, continues to explore various aspects of the Southern Ocean, including bio-geochemistry and biodiversity.