When it might be getting the media coverage, New Moore Island is just one of dozens that are sinking to the sea. Situated between India and Bangladesh, New Moore Island has long been the topic of a diplomatic disagreement between the two countries. Residents of Bangladesh have long since taken a short term loan of living space on other, drier shores, but the issue will only get worse as time goes on. The brouhaha over New Moore Island is bringing media attention to the rising sea claiming more land then every before.
New Moore Island is also South Talpatti
New Moore Island is a relatively small piece of disputed land – less than 3 square miles. The government of India maintains that New Moore Island is within their ocean borders and is therefore theirs. Conversely, the government of Bangldesh also claims the island, which they call South Talpatti. There have never been any permanent settlements on New Moore Island. The Bhola cyclone in 1970 actually revealed New Moore Island / South Talpatti, which is what initiated the conflict. India had at one point established a base on South Talpatti / New Moore Island, but international opinion was split on the issue.
Rising sea levels engulf New Moore Island
As reported by the BBC, the School of Oceanographic Studies in Calcutta has officially determined New Moore Island to be submerged by sea water. The institute has verified that New Moore Island is no more with satellite pictures and reports from fishermen. Before the year 2000, sea levels in most of the world went up by approximately 3 millimeters a year, but between 2000 and 2010 sea level has risen at about 5 millimeters per year. In the Bengal Basin region and Sundarban Island chain, where New Moore Island was situated, sea levels are increasing by about 3.14 centimeters a year. Four islands of the Sundarban chain sunk before New Moore Island.
Other island nations at risk
The Sundarban Island chain is not the only home to sinking islands. A small nation known as the Maldives in the Indian Ocean has been losing land mass steadily for years. The highest point in the Maldives is only 8 feet above ocean level, so even a high tide can create problems for residents. The government of the Maldives is building an artificial island called Hulhumale nearby for residents to move to. Tuvalu, a Pacific Ocean island between Hawaii and Austrailia, is also fast losing land mass. There are 11,000 residents of Tuvalu, all of whom could be devoid of a home in as little as 50 years. Each year, 75 Tuvalu residents can use military personal loans to move to New Zealand – but many more are left behind. Like New Moore Island, Tonga, Kirbati, and the Marshall Islands are all at risk of sinking into the sea.
Can the islands be rescued?
In the end, there is no way to accurately measure the cause and effect of small islands ending up in the ocean. Islands can rise and fall in addition to the fact sea levels regularly change. Some say the sea levels are increasing because of climate change, others because of normal climate variations. There is no way to really stop an island from sinking to the ocean, though, so islands like New Moore Island are being forced to discover solutions.
