Assessment The Impact Of Sea Level Rise On Mangrove Dynamics Of Ganges Delta In India Using Remote Sensing And GIS

Abstract

The intertidal mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarban is now as a critical ecosystem due to climate change induced sea level rise. The present study analyses the responses, migration, destruction and vulnerability of the four deltaic mangrove ecosystem (Bakhali, Bulcherry, Dalhausie and Bangaduni Islands) along the ocean sides. The changes of these deltaic ecosystem studied by using GIS and remote sensing with collecting data about sea level of nearest tidal gauge station Haldia (2.59 ± 1.0 mm/year) and Diamond Harbor (4.67 ± 0.68 mm/year). The study finds that if the sea level rises relative to mangrove surface, the mangrove retreat landward and also decline the land areas, increases soil erosion that affected in southern and southwestern part where these vulnerable mangrove islands is located. Moreover the study indicates that the low level mangrove islands would be threatened with the rates of increasing sea level under present climate change.

KEYWORDS: Sea level rise, Mangrove dynamics, landward migration, Mangrove vulnerability, Sustainable mangrove management.