India's first scientific expedition to the South Pole will study environmental changes that could throw new light on global warming on the frozen continent. The team will also study the movements of tectonic plates.

The team of seven scientists from India's National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research will analyze the environmental changes in the Antarctic region over the past 1,000 years. The 40-day expedition will begin from India's base - Maitri in Antarctica. Specially designed vehicles for ice will carry the scientists in the expedition that is aimed at enhancing the research capability of Indian scientists.

"We will conduct meteorological experiments, record humidity, temperatures, wind speed and atmospheric pressures during the 20-day trip to the South Pole and other experiments would be conducted on our way back," Rasik Ravindra, head of the team was quoted as saying by AFP.

The team will fly in a Russian aircraft from India. They then will travel 2,400 kilometers from Maitri, their base to the South Pole. “We chose the expedition because no-one has gone on this track and things have changed over time so new data on variations will be available to us," he said.