Sea Level Rise and Impact on Moushuni Island of Sundarban Delta (West bengal)—A Geospatial-Based Approach

Abstract

Sea level rise (SLR) is one of the major threats to coastal areas across the world. According to IPCC, Sundarban delta is vulnerable due to climate change and natural disasters. This paper aims to delineate the erosional pattern and shifting of shorelines of Moushuni Island and its impact on the local livelihood pattern due to SLR. Multi-temporal Landsat data were used to identify the shoreline. The Union method was applied to demarcate erosion and accretion zone. Spatial overlay analysis is performed to determine the spatial correlation with the socio-economic characteristics within the study site. The net loss of the entire Sundarban island is 44 km² between 2001 and 2009 with an average rate of erosion of 5.5 km²/year. Coastal erosion and accretion cause shoreline dynamic in the Moushuni island. There is a rapid shifting of the shoreline on the Moushuni island. As a result, there is a progressive reduction in land area with the breaching of embankments. The land area of Moushuni island in 2000 and 2009 was 28.923 sq km and 28.283 sq km, respectively, and the total loss of land area was 0.64 sq km with 2.28% of land loss between 2001 and 2009. Out of four mouzas of Moushuni island, Baliara mouza has lost 2.4 sq km² with 157 holdings approx. About 80% population of Baliara mouza are in the most vulnerable condition. The impact of SLR decreased land holding, pressure on agriculture and increased salinity on its periphery.