Analyzing the Impact of Cyclone Amphan on Mangrove Ecosystems Using Spectral Indices in Henry Island, Sundarbans
摘要
Tropical Cyclone Amphan inflicted substantial damage on the mangroves of the Henry Island in the Sundarbans which houses a vast diversity of flora and fauna. Further the region has experienced a number of cyclonic and natural calamitic activities in the recent years. This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Amphan on the mangrove forest within Henry Island in the Sundarbans, by using Remote Sensing and by analyzing the changes in the Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and the Combine Mangrove Recognition Index (CMRI). The analysis finds its significance due to the importance of mangroves in shoreline protection, in supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods and also furnishing critical insights on disaster impact assessment and formulating worthwhile resilience strategies. The assessment method employed in the study encompasses NDBI, NDWI and CMRI which finds its application in a number of fields like Geology, Hydrology, etc. In our study we are using NDBI, NDWI and CMRI to analyze the change in the water and mangrove patterns and the Built-Up areas in our Region of Interest (ROI), that is the Henry Island over a period of 2 years pre, during and post the cyclone. The integration of the aforesaid indices provides an ensembled approach which enhances the accuracy of this analysis. Moreover, it also addresses the limitations of solutions using single indices like Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) which may not be successful in offering accuracy. Through the change in the NDBI, NDWI and the CMRI indices, we can determine where the major changes have occurred over the years due to the cyclone as well as due to the sediment and debris deposits. Our findings elucidate the destructive consequences of Cyclone Amphan on the mangrove forest, inflicting significant ecosystem loss attributable to the extreme precipitation and high wind speeds. The NDBI, NDWI and CMRI variations obtained reveal profound effects on the local ecosystem, manifested through a decline in vegetation vigor and alterations in soil conditions, notably marked by an increase in salinity.