Context:
- Recently, the National Information System for Climate and Environment Studies (NICES) programme invited Indian researchers to join in combating climate change.
About the NICES Programme:
- It is a programme operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space, along with other ministries and institutions under the framework of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- It was conceptualised in 2012 to meet the ongoing challenge of monitoring climate variability and climate change from space.
- It functions under the guidance of the NICES – Programme Management Council (PMC).
Objectives:
- To generate and disseminate long-term Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), derived from Indian and other Earth Observation (EO) satellites, which are crucial for characterising Earth’s climate.
- NICES has developed and made accessible over 70 geophysical variables related to Terrestrial, Ocean, and Atmospheric conditions.
- Key focus areas are Space-based ECVs and Climate Indicators, Climate Change Challenges, Weather Extremes, Climate Services, etc.