Sea Successfully Reclaims Disputed Island
Disputed South Talpatti Island, aka New Moore Island Drowns
South Talpatti Island as it was called by Bangladeshis, or New Moore Island (also Purbasha) as it was called by Indians, a tiny uninhabited island south of the Hariabhanga river in the Bay of Bengal, is completely submerged by rising sea levels.
The small island had been partially submerged at least once. Indian oceanographers analyzing recent satellite images said the Bay of Bengal island had now been completely submerged by rising seas levels.
Bangladesh and India had disputed the sovereignty of the island ever since it emerged in the Bay of Bengal after cyclone Bhola struck in 1970. The island had remained uninhabited throughout its ephemeral life.
The Location Map of the Ghost Island South Talpatti. Click image to enlarge.
Island Position: Bay of Bengal
Location: 21.62°N, 89.14°E
Average Area: ~ 11 km² (4.3 sq miles) – largest area measured up to 15 km² (5.8 sq miles)
Average length: ~ 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
Average width: ~ 3.1 km (2 miles)
Population: Nil
Confirmation
Indian oceanographers have confirmed that based on satellite imagery and sea patrols, the island has drowned.
“What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking, has been resolved by global warming,” said Hazra, an oceanographer at the School of Oceanographic Studies, University of Calcutta.
Sea levels have risen in the Bay of Bengal at an alarming rate; whereas the levels rose by about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) a year prior to 2000, they have been rising by about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in the last decade, he said.
Wondering where some of the water might come from? See Greenland Ice Sheet Losing Ice Mass.
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