I would caution against anyone using this island's disappearance as evidence
of the so-called "global warming."
The location in question is in the Bengal Geosyncline, one of the world's
most active areas of surface subsidence for geological reasons unrelated to
climate. This happens in great deltaic regions where the increasing weight
of fluvial deposits onto soft underlying structures causes the land to
subside. When the rate of subsidence eventually exceeds the rate of
sediment deposition, net loss of land begins. When particular segments of
land sink enough that salt water kills the vegetation holding them together,
dramatic disappearances can occur over just a few years. No matter how
"inconvenient," this is all part of the natural cycle of deltaic
development.
For more information on geologic subsidence specific to the region, see
Chapter 8 beginning on page 169 of the book at http://tinyurl.com/yatwev6 .
Lowell G. McManus
Eagle Pass, Texas, USA
|