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Study by climate researchers at IIT Bombay reveals Mumbai is sinking by 2mm annually – Times Now

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Other studies too have shown that the Arabian Sea is rising by 0.5 to 3mm per year, which suggests that some parts of Mumbai may be sinking faster than sea levels are rising.
  • A total of six images were analysed every year to establish the rate of land subsidence over a five-year period.
Mumbai: A study, published in the peer-reviewed Geophysical Research Letters journal in March, by climate researchers at IIT Bombay found a maximum subsidence of 93 mm/yr in the city. According to a report in Hindustan Times, experts say that Mumbai is likely to see increased flooding unless urgent remedial action is taken by both urban planners and municipal authorities.

‘Land subsidence’ refers to the downward, vertical movement of the earth’s surface, which could be caused due to groundwater extraction, mining, reclamation of natural wetlands, infrastructure projects, and ecological disturbances.

The methodology used by the researchers was to first collect satellite images of 99 coastal cities captured (between October 2014 and January 2021) by the C-band Sentinel-1 A/B satellite, commissioned by the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA). The images were then analysed using the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, which is a commonly used technique for measuring deformations in the earth’s surface through remote sensing.

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For each city, researchers processed one satellite image every two months. A total of six images were analysed every year to establish the rate of land subsidence over a five-year period.

Other studies in recent times have shown that the Arabian Sea is rising by 0.5 to 3mm per year, which suggests that some parts of Mumbai may be sinking faster than sea levels are rising. The highest subsidence was recorded in Byculla, Colaba, Churchgate, Kalba Devi, Kurla, Andheri East, Mulund, Nahur East, Dadar, Wadala, and parts of Tardeo, Bhandup, Trombay, and Govandi according to the study.

The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan earlier this year. According to experts, authorities need to pay urgent attention to land subsidence as a scientific and socio-economic issue, as areas prone to subsidence may experience the worst impacts of flooding and property damage.

According to a report in CNBC, another research study conducted by the Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering at IIT Bombay had identified two major subsidence areas in Mumbai — Vasai and Wadala. Their research found a strong correlation between land subsidence, groundwater extraction, and the proximity of the area to mangrove plantations and the coastline.

Mumbai had on Friday received the heaviest pre-monsoon showers of the season. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the onset of the south-west monsoons in the city with a heavy thunderstorm likely today.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/mumbai-is-sinking-by-2mm-annually-a-study-by-climate-researchers-at-iit-bombay-finds-that-the-city-is-sinking-due-to-land-subsidence-article-92183364