Do Unique Stratospheric Life Forms Get A Piggy Back Ride Inside SW Monsoon Clouds To Leave Signatures In Locally Sampled Rainwater ?

Author:Kamat Nandkumar

Co-authors:Kolte Rutuja, Dabolkar Sujata

Abstract/Description:
Morris et al, 2008 while stressing the importance of biometeorology as an upcoming field of research highlighted the need of understanding microbiological dimensions of atmospheric processes. Research in USA (Mohler et al., 2007) and France (Brent, 2012), Canada, Germany, Austria (Deguillaume et al, 2008) has implicated or produced evidence of microbial life in stratosphere, storms and rain clouds. South west tropical monsoon is an important event for ecology and economy in India and other recipient monsoon countries. However scant attention has been paid to the microbiological aspects of tropical stratosphere and the possible role of bioaerosols or stratospheric life forms in this mega tropical disturbance. A humble attempt was made to test the hypothesis regarding detection and visualization of life forms in local samples of rainwater collected directly under standard aseptic conditions at the open, secure Goa University campus on basis of positive indications from a previous time series study which led to refinement of sampling technique. The results of physicochemical and microbiological analysis are presented and discussed with some speculations on possible origin of Inorganic, Organic components and the detected morphological diversity of interesting life forms revealed by bright field and phase contrast microscopy. The ecological, biological, microbiological, pathological and public health / epidemiological implications of the findings are presented and the importance of tropical SW monsoon related basic and advanced biometeorological studies is highlighted to solve the riddle of microbial life forms getting a piggy back ride inside the monsoon clouds.

Poster presented at:
UGC sponsored National Conference on Life Sciences