For the first time ever, an inhabited island has vanished under rising sea levels. The Indian island of Lohachara existed at a point where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. No more.
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
No more what? The problem
Thanks clark kent
Alas, what you meant to say
Alas, what you meant to say was: firmly planted in the facts. :)
Regards,
I think Paul raises an
The problem is when individuals from both sides of the debate only question the side they oppose, not just every article.
What is important is the peer-reviewed scientific evidence in science journals. I’m interested to see what the researchers at Jadavpur University actually publish.
I read this story today, but
(And I say that reluctantly,
Not so simple
The issue of sea level rise seems very simple, but like so many realities, it is not.
This island was at the confluence of two major rivers. Because of its location, increased river flows could have swamped some (or all) of the island. If river flow did not swamp the island, it may have eroded the island.
Tectonic activity causes some coastal areas to subside and others (through subduction) to raise up. The Atlantic Ocean has a major rift running north-south caused by the American plate moving away from the European and African plates. Because of this many parts of the surrounging coastlines are subsiding. Consequently sea level changes referenced to spots along the Atlantic coasts are greater than the mean change in sea level because the groung is sinking.
On the West Coast, the American plate is generally raising over the Pacific plate. This causes the coast to rise. If you hike into the coastal mountains (San Padres National Forest) you can observe sea bed at elevations of 500 to 1,000 m above current sea level.
Therefore, without more information it is not possible to make the leap of faith that Ross attemps to make in his short article. Before one can state a claim about sea level rise obliterating the island, it would really help to know if:
1. the river flow remained consistent over the past 20 - 50 years, and
2. that the island was tectonically stable (or at least not subsiding).
Tim Lambert has the goods on
Finally Tim and I agree
Tim says:
So it is wrong to blame Global Warming for the disappearance of Lohachara island.
So it would seem that Ross is wrong on this.
Rising sea levels are here to stay