Why in the news?

  • A study on coral microatolls in Maldives shows sea levels in the central Indian Ocean have been rising since the late 1950s.

Sea Level Rise in Indian Ocean Region

  • What is Sea Level Rise?: Rise in mean sea level due to thermal expansion of oceans + glacial/ice melt.
  • Causes of Sea Level Rise in Indian Ocean Region
    • Thermal Expansion: IOR is warming at a rate faster than global average since the 1950s.
    • Glacial Melt: Contribution from Himalayas, Antarctica, Greenland.
    • Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): Variability affects regional sea levels.
    • Land subsidence in deltas (e.g., Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna).
    • Anthropogenic factors: Coastal reclamation, mangrove destruction.
  • Current Observation
    • Rate: Indian Ocean average rise ≈ 3.7 mm/yr (1993–2020), slightly above global mean.
    • Hotspots:
      • Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea rising faster due to warming & monsoon circulation.
      • Sundarbans: ~3–8 mm/yr rise; severe erosion & submergence.
      • Maldives & Lakshadweep: extreme vulnerability (low-lying atolls)
  • Impacts
    • Environment
      • Coastal erosion & flooding.
      • Salinisation of soil and groundwater.
      • Loss of mangroves, wetlands, coral reefs.
    • Socio-Economic
      • Displacement of coastal populations (“climate refugees”).
      • Threat to major cities: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi.
      • Loss of agricultural productivity in deltas (rice, aquaculture).
      • Impacts on Blue Economy: ports, fisheries, tourism.
    • Security Concern
      • Security concerns in Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
      • Maritime boundary disputes due to shifting coastlines.
  • Indian Response
    • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) + State Action Plans.
    • National Coastal Mission under NAPCC for coastal ecosystem protection.
    • National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR): Monitors shoreline changes.
    • National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC).
    • Mangrove restoration (Green India Mission).
    • Disaster Management Act, 2005 & coastal zone regulations (CRZ).
    • International Cooperation:
      • Paris Agreement (2015) → Net-Zero 2070 target.
      • ISA, CDRI, IOC-UNESCO programs.
  • Challenges
    • Limited adaptive infrastructure in small islands.
    • Funding gaps for climate-resilient coastal protection.
    • Population density in coastal India (~250 million).
    • Data & monitoring gaps at micro level.
  • Way Forward
    • Coastal Zone Management Plans with stricter CRZ enforcement.
    • Nature-based solutions: mangroves, coral reef restoration, dune stabilisation.
    • Climate-resilient infrastructure in ports & coastal cities.
    • Regional cooperation under IORA, BIMSTEC for climate adaptation.
    • Early warning systems for storm surges & inundation.
    • Blue Finance: Use of Green Climate Fund, sovereign green bonds.
    • Relocation & livelihood diversification in high-risk zones.

 

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