Background:

Earth System Science deals with the Earth system’s five components—Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Lithosphere, and Biosphere, and their complex interactions. 

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) holistically addresses all the aspects relating the Earth System Science for providing weather, climate, ocean, coastal state, hydrological and seismological services. 
• The services include forecasts, warnings and detection for various natural disasters like tropical cyclones, storm surge, floods, heatwaves, thunderstorm and lightning and earthquakes etc.
• MoES is also mandated to conduct ocean survey and exploration for living and non-living resources and explore all the three poles (Arctic, Antarctic and Himalayas). 
• The services provided by MoES are effectively used by various agencies and state governments for saving human lives and minimising damages due to natural disasters.

The major programmes of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)

Atmospheric and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS):

• It is an umbrella scheme of IMD primarily encompassing ongoing programs in an integrated manner aimed at providing efficient weather and climate services across the country in various sectors.

Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART):

• The services rendered under the O-SMART will provide economic benefits to a number of user communities in the coastal and ocean sectors, namely, fisheries, offshore industry, coastal states, Defence, Shipping, Ports etc.

Polar and Cryosphere Research (PACER):

• Pacer Programme supports studies of various aspects relating to Polar and Cryosphere with special emphasis on the Antarctic, Arctic and Glaciers of Himalayas. 
• This includes maintenance of observation systems, expeditions, Indian stations, Polar Research vessels etc. in these environments.

Seismology and Geoscience Research (SAGE):

The Seismological Facilities for the Advancement of Geoscience and Earth Scope (SAGE) comprise a distributed, multi-user, national facility for the development, deployment, and operational support of modern digital seismic instrumentation to serve national goals in basic research and education in the earth sciences, earthquake research, global real-time earthquake monitoring, and nuclear test ban verification.

Research, Education and Training Outreach (REACHOUT) Programme:

This scheme provides support to academic/research organizations in various sectors of Earth System Sciences including technology development.

Source: The Hindu