The cryospheric studies conducted at NCAOR revealed the importance of an integrated approach to the snow-ice system. The quality of the research undertaken by this programme is highlighted in the form of several peer-reviewed research publications in national/ international journals. The major findings of the study include:

The sulphate profile of ~470 years record of IND 22/B4 ice core revealed sulphate anomalies related to global volcanic eruptions, with major volcanic events influenced the short-term climatic conditions (Thamban et al., 2006).

Study of tephra from IND 22/B4 core revealed presence of a plethora of microbial cells adhered to the surfaces of tephra. These tiny living entities together with the particles on which they are adhered, appears to provide a significant micro-niche in accreted ice, hitherto known (Laluraj et al. 2008).

A first report of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans bacteria from fresh snow deposits in coastal Antarctica revealed the crucial role of bacteria in the biogeochemical cycling in snow within the coastal Antarctica (Antony et al., 2009). Remarkably, the C. cellulans strain from Antarctic snow demonstrated physiological traits that were markedly different from that of the mesophilic C. cellulans type strains.

A study of regional atmospheric circulation changes based on instrumental data from Halley station as well as an ice core from coastal Dronning Maud Land revealed that the key factor affecting the regional SAM-temperature relationship is the relative magnitude of two climatological low pressure centres to the west and east of the area (Marshall et al., 2009).

An ultra-high-resolution ice core record of IND 25/B5 (with monthly sample resolution) revealed utility of shallow ice cores in reconstructing the past changes in major climatic modes like the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Southern Annular mode (SAM) (Naik et al., 2010 a).

The δ¹⁸O records of IND 25/B5 showed a significant relation to the SAM with a dominant ~4 years variability, except during specific periods when ENSO tele connection was established through the in-phase relation between SAM and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). A significant warming of 1°C during 1905-2005 is revealed in the surface air temperature estimated using the δ¹⁸O record, confirming that the coastal Dronning Maud Land region is showing significant warming trend of 0.1°C per decade (Naik et al., 2010 b).

Biogeochemical analysis of the snow samples from Ingrid Christensen Coast revealed that elevated nutrient concentrations in ice cap snow may be responsible for the observed enhanced growth of microalgae in snow with subsequent production of bromo-carbons which explains the high bromide concentration in snow, suggesting that biogenic sources of halocarbons are important in coastal Antarctica (Antony et al., 2010).

Glacio-chemical analysis of surface snow deposits from the Ingrid Christensen Coast revealed that the distribution pattern of sea spray constituents was influenced by the distance from the sea as well as the altitude. The non-sea-salt sulphate data revealed that several summer snow deposits in the study region are significantly fractionated, apparently related to the sea ice existence during the summer (Thamban et al., 2010).

The nitrate profile of the IND 22/B4 core revealed that nitrate records of Antarctic ice cores are controlled by production rates, scavenging processes in the atmosphere, as well as the temperature at the site of precipitation (Laluraj et al., 2011).  The nitrate data reveals a close resemblance to the ¹⁰Be record (solar proxy) from South Pole and therefore suggest a possible influence of external solar forcing on the circulation pattern over Antarctica.

Analysis of nitrate, sulphate and oxygen isotope records revealed synchronous changes with relatively enhanced nitrate concentration during periods of reduced solar activity. The oxygen isotope (d¹⁸O) records the core also revealed a significant warming trend of 2.7°C for the past 470 years, with an enhanced warming during the last several decades (Thamban et al., 2011).

The total organic carbon along with sea-salt Na+, dust, and microbial load of two geographically distinct traverses in East Antarctica suggested that while a significant marine influence is shown for TOC in coastal sites, in situ microorganisms significantly accounted for organic carbon content in the snow samples from inland regions where marine influence is very minimal (Antony et al., 2011b).