'Beach erosion in Goa could be linked to climate change'

PANAJI: The extent of erosion on the state's beaches may be a result of wind speeds driving sea waves to hit the coast harder than in the past, National Centre Antartic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), scientist, Alvarino Luis said. He was speaking at a workshop on 'National green corps: Eco clubs, the gateway to green campus' organized by the Goa state council for science and technology, ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and education department in association with CPR environmental education centre, Chennai, at the state museum in Panaji on Friday. The workshop part of the recent International Year of Biodiversityand World Ozone Day. On climate change, Luis said the earth's average surfacetemperature has risen by 0.76 degrees Celsius since 1850. Carbon emissions whicheffect climatic changes, form a blanket in the upper atmosphere of the earth andprevent heat from escaping. "In Goa, summers have been warmer during the lastfew years and the minimum temperatures are also on the higher side," Luis said.Similarly, the sea-level rise may inundate more areas, but may not cause so mucherosion, though it is a natural phenomenon during the monsoon, he said.Explaining, he said a sea-level rise of 2 mm per year is negligible but it is likely that increase in wind energy may be the cause of beaches being hit by waves of more amplitude. Stating that more data is needed to explore this aspect, he said, "We have to measure the wind speeds at different locations." Rainer Lohmann, a scientist at the School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, USA, said heat waves and droughts have increased due to climate change, leading to disaster-like wildfires and crop failures. Baban Ingole, an NIO fisheries scientist, said the impact of climate change will be adverse on fisheries. "Jellyfish are now seen more often on beaches. They can tolerate higher temperatures and they feed on abundantly available food such as zooplankton and fish larvae, which are also food for bigger fishes," said Ingole. He added that the invasive jellyfish species can impact thefood chain. He also said that the population of sardines is increasing becausethey frequent waters with warmer temperatures and find a suitable habitat offthe Konkan coast. Meanwhile, Maruthabu Sudhkar, scientist and advisor to MoEF,said 527 eco clubs have been instrumental in carrying out eco activities in thestate and an energy audit programme has been undertaken by schools towardsmitigating climate change. Resource materials including an action plan to offsetcarbon emissions and a pledge for school children were released as part of theworkshop. It also sought to sensitize eco teachers in schools,higher-secondaries and colleges to form eco clubs and to build a cadre of younggreen minds. National green corps (Goa) nodal officer and chief scientist,science and technology department, Goa, Joseph Rauto de Souza, Deepak Parab,George F and Bolmax Pereira also spoke at the workshop.