IIT Bhubaneswar, ISRO join hands for coastal and oceanic research along Bay of Bengal

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have formalised a partnership to advance collaborative research on oceanic and coastal processes along the Bay of Bengal.

As reported by The Press Information Bureau of India, the agreement aims to deepen scientific understanding of physical and biogeochemical dynamics in the region, including shoreline change patterns that have raised concerns in several coastal districts of Odisha.

 MoU Focuses On Bay Of Bengal Studies

 An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed that establishes a framework for collaborative research and development.

The initiative will initially focus on near-shore dynamics spanning the Sundarbans delta to northern Andhra Pradesh, with potential to expand to other Indian coastal regions in subsequent phases.

 The project will employ advanced remote sensing, oceanographic analysis, and modelling tools to map and understand physical processes such as waves, tides, and currents, as well as biogeochemical interactions in the coastal and oceanic environment.

 Researchers aim to capture the complex interactions of riverine freshwater influx, ocean eddies, and mangrove ecosystems, which collectively influence sediment transport and shoreline evolution.

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 Pilot Phase And Research Objectives

 The pilot phase will concentrate on assessing shoreline erosion, a phenomenon increasingly affecting Odisha’s coastal districts, including Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara.

 Local communities, particularly fishermen, have been severely impacted by the ongoing loss of land to the sea. The collaborative effort will help disentangle the roles of global warming, tectonic activity, and seasonal monsoon-driven processes in shaping coastal changes.