A new scientific research claims that the Sundarbans Delta is not under immediate threat from the rising sea level caused by global warming. The research contradicts previous studies carried out earlier that state the opposite. The research offers good news and hopes especially for the life thriving in the islands.
According to a report released by a group of scientists and foresters, the changing sea level will have some impact on the Sundarban islands. However, there might be a formation of new lands due to siltation and accretion. This will change the overall profile of the islands.
This means the islands will not be affected in the same as scientists had earlier predicted.
Nonetheless, the islands will still be subjected to a certain degree of land erosion in some parts though the erosion is part of the natural land formation process. Therefore, the average loss of land is part of Delta and estuary formation through the heavy floods that take place twice a day.
The Sundarbans Delta has 102 islands that are home to 42,000 people and about 76 tigers.
According to a report from the UN’s Climate Science Department, the sea level has been rising by an average of 3.2mm every year since 1993. Previous reports have been raising concerns about the uncertain nature of the Sundarbans.
Researchers have been expecting things to keep taking a turn for the worse especially after the Suparibhanga and Lohachara islands were eroded away in the past twenty years.
Scientists have since then expected the Sundarbans vanish gradually especially due to the rising sea level.
The new study does not support the slow disintegration of the islands especially because of how the islands are situated in the estuary. It is the reason the islands have remained there for such a long time.
The inference is also supported by the new islands that have been formed and thrived just near the estuary over the past few years. However, the islands have been constantly changing their shape due to accretion and erosion caused by oceanic currents and waves.
