SEA LEVEL RISE

Sea Level
Average level of the sea worldwide.
Is a central element in detecting, understanding, attributing and correctly projecting climate change.

NOT CONSTANT it continuously changes (e.g., glaciations, mid-ocean ridge volume).

This is important for interpreting geologic history. Shorelines of today are geologically very new!

Types of Sea Level Change

(a) Eustatic: change in volume of liquid water worldwide. Glaciation lowers sea level by ~130m. Exposes continental shelves to weathering and erosion. Global warming = melting of ice = eustatic increase in sea level. (b) Tectonic: movement of crust relative to sea level more local than (a). For example, uplift of region due to tectonism (e.g., Himalayas); isostatic rebound (e.g., Hudson Bay).

Causes
Global warming Thermal expansion: accounts for about half of the SLR. Land ice melt: melting of glaciers is a main contributor. Subsidence of coastal lands Other factors:
Change in land-based water storage, ground water extraction, impoundment in reservoirs, wetland drainage and deforestation.

Water cycles between ocean, atmosphere, and glaciers.

Channels like this one can feed water down through hundreds of metres of ice

Mountain glaciers

SLR (Risk areas)

Maldives and USA Greenland and Antarctica Low lying islands of Coastal area of Srilanka, islands in Bangladesh, Karachi. Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Cochin and Lakshadweep.
A Tourist Centre of Maldives

Past, Present and Future

Average global SLR- 1 to 2mm/year India current rise 1mm/year. Predicted sea level rise: 0 .03 to 0.3 m by 2040; 0.09 - 0.88m by 2100 by IPCC.

. In Bangladesh - 0.3 to 1.5 meters by 2050

Extreme low: 0.02m Extreme high: 6 m

Effects of SLR
Inundation, salinity intrusions.

Localized food insecurity.

Spread water related diseases.

Vector borne diseases.

Create drinking/irrigation problem.

Erode beaches, intensify flooding and increase the salinity of rivers, bays and groundwater tables.

IMPACTS
Coastal ecosystem: Includes mangrooves, coral reefs, sea grass, marine life

Many coastal communities are affected

Disruption of sanitation, drainage, sewage disposal, system Psychological and other illnesses Leading to the increase in various infections and transmission of diseases and breeding of insects

Many industries set up at the coastal regions can be harmed

in turn affecting the Indian economy

INDIAN COAST LINE

Total length from Sunder bans in West Bengal till the

Rann of Kutch in Gujarat 5700 km. Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar group of islands constitute - 1810 km Few major coastal ports: Mumbai, Chennai,

Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Kochi and Goa

THE GREATEST THREAT- SEA LEVEL RISE

Inundation of coastal colonies India is one of the 28 countries endangered from sea level rise Total area of 5763 sq km and 4.6% of the coastal population would be affected

Most vulnerable areas- Gujarat, Mumbai, South Kerala, Lakshadweep islands

DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES
Facts:

Reports say-sea level rise between 15 to 38 cm can affect tens- of thousands of people at the coasts

A meter rise today would displace 7 million people One report has determined that by the end of the century 12 million people would be displaced in West Bengal

The problem of coastal refugees would start irking the Governments

soon : their rehabilitation, compensation and effect on economy.

BYE BYE BEACHES.

Threatening to chew up beaches of Vishakhapatnam and Puri by slowly disintegrating Climatic factors and man made development is causing heavy toll on the beaches of Goa. Water has started to enter close to solid ground.would affect tourism and local coastal communities

SEA WATER INTRUSION

The vulnerability area increases with every 0.5 m rise in sea level.

Maximum near the creeks and minimum along main coast.

Irrigated agriculture, coastal activities, tourism at risk Saline water may make land unfit for agriculture Two islands already vanished from Sunder bans displacing 7000 people. Two more islands at risk. About 40% of the population in Mumbai vulnerable to sea water

intrusion due to increased water level.

Increased Sea Level, Increased Floods

Inundation

COASTAL REFUGEES

Special type of climate refugees basically inhabitants of the coasts

Displaced due to rise in sea level and inundation of their villages

Or due to sea water intrusion making land saline and unavailable for agriculture

7000 people already coastal refugees in Sunder bans and

70,000 looming under large threat

Animals affected
Polar bears Sea otters Whales and Sharks Sea turtles Walrus Seals Penguins Sea gulls Albatross Coral reefs and Fishes etc.,

Seal
Sea otter

Sea turtles

Whales

Role of Veterinarian
Treatment for:
Malnutrition Diarrhoea Toxicities Control of vectors. Shifting of animals to high altitudes.

Mass feeding of animals.

Chemoprophylaxis and immunoprophylaxis.

Prevention
Prevent global warming. Reforestation. Avoid low lying coastal areas. All the countries should work in consensus towards reduction of carbon emission throughi. Koyoto protocol ii. Enmod protocol iii. Montreal protocol

OPTING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development means developing in such a way that our resources are utilised in the best possible way and can be replenished for future generations

Now has become a global concept Many countries have recognised it and are adopting it It is necessary for all This would directly affect the lives of the people

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

Developed countries worst polluters

We cannot solely rely on Government agencies, scientists and economists to act

While coastal communities have a low carbon footprint than us, we can too reduce ours by adopting various methods of alternative sources of energy We should realise that saving resources would in turn be the best possible way to live Public Transport, low carbon emissions etc. should be aimed

CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME

Cannot solely depend on Government agencies, research and

scientists

Underlying point remains the same : Reduce your carbon footprint.

Use more non conventional sources of energy - Sun, Wind etc. Coastal Management should be based on the region

decentralized

Decision making should be flexible

Adaptation Strategies
Strengthen disaster warning systems.
Identify, assess, and evaluate coastal technologies. Provide specialized capacity building packages on adaptation. Strengthen socio-economic analysis of adaptation. Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM).

National Institute of Oceanography, Goa

Conclusions: Mean sea-level-rise trends along the Indian coasts are about on an average 1.30 mm/year

Future Projections (global) indicate on an average about 3.8 mm/year for A1B scenario
Return period estimates indicate higher flood risks associated with storm surges along the southern part of the east coast of India, where tidal ranges are low

ONLY WHEN THE LAST TREE HAS DIED, THE LAST RIVER POISONED AND THE LAST FISH CAUGHT, WILL WE REALIZE THAT WE CANNOT EAT MONEY