High wave activity in regions over Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, & South Indian Ocean can pose threat for coastal communities

What is the News?

A study conducted by Indian Scientists has indicated that regions over the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and South Indian Ocean can experience higher wave activity in the future, posing a serious threat for coastal communities in the region.

How does climate change impact coastal communities?

Coastal communities are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change and other environmental drivers due to a) exposure to severe inundation, b) extreme water levels in the nearshore regions and, c) increasing instances of cyclones.

The impact resulting from this coastal inundation can significantly affect the shoreline configuration, damage infrastructure, saltwater intrusion into groundwater, destroy crops and affect the human population with various socio-economic consequences.

What is the study conducted by scientists?

Scientists conducted a detailed investigation on future extreme wind-wave projections and their relationship with wind speed, sea level pressure, and sea surface temperature.

What are the findings of the study?

The study has indicated that regions over the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and South Indian Ocean can experience higher wave activity in the future. The projected change in wave heights are maximum for the South China Sea.

Source: This post is based on the article “High wave activity in regions over Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, & South Indian Ocean can pose threat for coastal communities” published in PIB on 4th Feb 2022.