Global warming affects India's eastern coast

Agartala, May 13 (UNI) Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts of Orissa, Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu of India's eastern coast could be submerged by next hundred years owing to increase of surface temperature.

The latest study, conducted by Ministry of Forest&Environment, on the impact of climate change on various sectors, including coastal zones, projected that even one metre rise of water in Bay of Bengal would be responsible for loss of 5764 sq km land in eastern coast of the country in next century.

Besides, submergence of coastal land due to global warming would displace approximately 7.1 million people along with 4200-km road by the end of next century.

The report stated that the coastal areas are also vulnerable to projected increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like storm surges and cyclones.

According to the report, the oceanic region adjoining Indian subcontinent is likely to warm at its surface by about 1.5-2 degree centigrade by the middle of this century and about 2.3-3.5 degree centigrade by the end of century.

The indication, derived from modern simulation study, also indicates that a number of human habitations along India's eastern coast would be divested with global warming intensifying cyclone and rising sea level eroding vast stretches of the shore lines.

The past observations on the mean sea level along the Indian coast show a long-term rising trend of about 1.0mm/year but the recent data revealed the rising trend is 2.5 mm/year in the sea level along Indian coastline.

The corresponding thermal expansion is expected to be between 15cm and 38 cm by the middle of the century and 46 cm and 59 cm by the end of the century.

UNI