ESSO - Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services

Ocean observations are crucial for understanding the increasing pressures on our oceans, particularly those driven by human activities. The long-term ocean observations enhance our ability to predict and adapt to changes in ocean conditions. Despite advancements in ocean monitoring, significant knowledge gaps remain, with key management-related questions unanswered. Expendable Bathythermographs (XBTs) have been fundamental to ocean temperature profiling since the 1970s, in India providing critical data for mapping expeditions and long-term records of temperature variations. Expendable Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth sensors (XCTDs) complement this by measuring salinity alongside temperature, enabling a more comprehensive analysis of oceanographic conditions. This course provides an overview of XBT and XCTD observations in the Indian Ocean, data processing and particularly applications. Participants will gain practical experience in acquiring and processing temperature and salinity data and deriving critical oceanic parameters such as Mixed Layer Depth (MLD), Isothermal Layer Depth (ILD), and Barrier Layer Thickness (BLT) and identifying the temperature inversions that are essential for assessing ocean variability and health.

Aims and objectives:

• Provide an introduction to XBT and XCTD ocean observations in the Indian Ocean.
• Provide hands-on experience in acquiring, processing, and analyzing XBT and XCTD data.
• Performing Quality Control of the data.
• Derivation of critical oceanographic parameters such as Mixed Layer Depth (MLD), Isothermal Layer Depth (ILD), and Barrier Layer Thickness (BLT).
• Assessment of XBT fall rate equation and Bias correction.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of XBT and XCTD data, including temperature and salinity measurements.
• Ability to acquire, process, and analyze XBT and XCTD data for oceanographic studies.
• Use of software such as Python, Fortran and Ferret.
• Knowledge of key oceanographic parameters such as MLD, ILD, and BLT.

Course Pre-requisites:

• Candidates should have a basic understanding of oceanographic data, particularly related to temperature and salinity measurements.
• Familiarity with data acquisition techniques, especially XBT and XCTD, is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience with data processing and analysis using programming tools (such as Python or Ferret) is beneficial.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops for hands-on sessions involving data processing.

Target Audience:

The target audience for this course includes, but is not limited to:

• University graduates who are in their last semester with a background in oceanography/Marine Science/environmental science or related fields.
• Junior Research Fellows/ Project Assistants/professionals working with oceanographic data in the Universities and Research Institutions.
• Scientific/Technical staff involved in ocean observations.
• Researchers working on XBT and XCTD data.

Course Fees:

• There is no course-fee. However, registration is required
• Participants will be provided accommodation and food by ITCOOcean.
• Participants will have to make own travel arrangements.

Note: Few participants who are in their master's degree will be provided travel support by means of shortest route by Train




Application Process :

Please fill the online application form. Registrations open on 01 December, 2024.

Period for Applications: 01^st - 25^th December, 2025


Applications closing on : December 25^th, 2024 05:00 PM IST (GMT +05:30)


Certificate: At the end of the course each successful participant will be provided with a certificate.


Programme Dates: 27-31 December, 2024


Venue:

International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean),
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India,
"Ocean Valley", Pragathi Nagar (B.O), Nizampet (S.O),
Hyderabad - 500 090, INDIA

Faculty:

• Dr. V. Suneel
• Dr. V.V.Gopalakrishna
• Dr. R. R. Rao
• Dr. Pankajakshan
• Dr. Nagamani
• Dr. TVS Udaya Bhaskar
• Dr. Thangaprakash
• Dr. Girish Kumar M.S



Course Coordinators: Dr. V. P. Thangaprakash & Dr. T V S Udaya Bhaskar


For any queries please contact:

• For any queries related to this course, contact: itcoocean@incois.gov.in

Schedule of Course:
Tentative Schedule (liable to change until finalized):

Time	Day1(27 Jan 25)	Day2(28 Jan 25)	Day3(29 Jan 25)	Day4(30 Jan 25)	Day5(31 Jan 25)
09:30 - 11:00	Inaugural Session Origin and evaluation of the Indian XBT Program (Lecturers: Dr. V.V. Goapalakrishna & Dr V. Suneel)	XCTD observations in Bay of Bengal (Lecturers: Drs. V. Suneel and V.V. Goapalakrishna)	History of Temperature Measurements in the Indian Ocean (Lecturer: Dr. Rokkam .R.Rao)	Estimation of Derived Parameters Continued (Lecturer: Dr. T.Pankajakshan)	Utility of Remote sensing Data for XBT Studies (Lecturer: Dr. Nagamani)
11:00 - 11:30	TEA BREAK
11:30 - 13:00	XBT data collection in the Indian Ocean and theory on XBT Data Processing Techniques (Lecturers: Dr. V.V. Goapalakrishna, & Dr V. Suneel)	Sea Surface Salinity Observations in the Bay of Bengal (Lecturers: Drs. V. Suneel and V.V. Goapalakrishna)	Derived parameters from XBT / XCTD Measurements (Lecturer: Dr. T.Pankajakshan)	Understanding Ocean Thermal structure from XBT data (Lecturer: Dr. Rokkam R Rao)	Visit to INCOIS labs
13:00 - 14:00	LUNCH BREAK
14:00 - 15:30	Practical: Processing of XBT Data (Lecturers: Dr. V.V. Goapalakrishna, & Dr V. Suneel)	Practical: XCTD deployment and Data processing (Lecturers: V. Suneel and V.V. Goapalakrishna)	Estimation of Derived Parameters (Lecturer: Dr.T.Pankajaksh)	Praticles: Deriving the Heat content and various other parameters from XBT / XCTD data sets (Dr. V. Suneel and group)	Visit to INCOIS labs
15:30 - 16:00	TEA BREAK
16:00 - 17:00	Practical: Processing of XBT Data (Lecturers: Dr. V.V. Goapalakrishna, & Dr V. Suneel)	Practical: Measuring Sea surface salinity using Autosal Salinometer: Hands- on experience	Estimation of Derived Parameters (Lecturer: Dr.T.Pankajaksh)	Praticles: Deriving the Heat content and various other parameters from XBT / XCTD data sets (Dr. V. Suneel and group)	Valedictory Session: Feedback from the students. Closing remarks by the Co-coordinator / Resource persons
17:00 - 17:30	Discussion on day 01 proceedings, Q & A	Discussion on day 02 proceedings, Q & A	Discussion on day 03 proceedings, Q & A	Discussion on day 04 proceedings, Q & A	Valedictory Session: Feedback from the students. Closing remarks by the Co-coordinator / Resource persons