Scientists detect unusual ozone layer above North Bay of Bengal
Scientists including researchers from ARIES, Nainital, detected an unusually high ozone concentration in the stratosphere over the North Bay of Bengal, the Science Ministry said on 10 August 2026.
Summary
Scientists from institutions across India, with the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, as an important participant, detected an unusually high concentration of ozone in the upper atmosphere over the North Bay of Bengal, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on 10 August 2026. The study, carried out under Phase-I of the NetRAD-ASMA campaign, gives experimental evidence of how stratospheric ozone is redistributed over the Indian subtropical region in winter. It used radars, weather balloons, satellites and models, including the indigenous 206.5 MHz Stratosphere–Troposphere Radar at ARIES. The findings were published in Earth and Space Science by the American Geophysical Union.
Key facts
- Finding
- Unusually high stratospheric ozone over North Bay of Bengal
- Key institute
- ARIES, Nainital (autonomous, DST)
- Campaign
- Phase-I NetRAD-ASMA
- Season studied
- Winter
- Instrument
- Indigenous 206.5 MHz ST Radar at ARIES
- Journal
- Earth and Space Science (AGU)
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Over which region did scientists detect an unusually high stratospheric ozone concentration, as reported in August 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — North Bay of Bengal
The unusual ozone layer was detected over the North Bay of Bengal during the Phase-I NetRAD-ASMA campaign.
The indigenous 206.5 MHz Stratosphere–Troposphere Radar used in the 2026 study on stratospheric ozone over the Bay of Bengal is located at which institute?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital
The 206.5 MHz ST Radar is at ARIES, Nainital, an autonomous DST institute; similar radars at Haringhata, Gadanki and Kochi also contributed data.