Researcher Uses Fascinating Satellite Animation To Debunk Adam's Bridge Myth
The Ram Setu bridge ¨C also known as the Adams Bridge ¨C is a 50-km stretch from Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka According to Indian mythology it was built by an army of monkeys for Hindu God Ram and his warriors to cross over to Lanka to rescue goddess Sita. Raj Bhagat Palanichamy who works as a GIS and remote sensing analyst at World Resources Institute tweeted satellite animations explaining the formations between I...Read More
The Ram Setu bridge ¨C also known as the Adam¡¯s Bridge ¨C is a 50-km stretch from Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka.
According to Indian mythology, it was built by an army of monkeys for Hindu God Ram and his warriors to cross over to Lanka, to rescue goddess Sita. It's a chain of coral islands and sandy shoals twisted across the strait between India's Pamban Island and Sri Lanka's Mannar Island.
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Over the years the Archaeological Survey of India, research scholars, university students, marine experts and scientists have tried to study and ascertain whether the Ram Setu was built naturally or is a man-made structure
One such study going viral online is by Raj Bhagat Palanichamy, who works as a GIS and remote sensing analyst at World Resources Institute, who tweeted satellite animations explaining the formations between India and Sri Lanka.
#Thread:
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
Since many had asked this, Writing a short thread on the formation between India and Sri Lanka
Usually many get deceived by "static" satellite images and believe that the Tombolo section as permanent relics of a man made bridge. pic.twitter.com/TEzvgwqnTc
In his tweet, Raj Bhagat explains, 'Usually many get deceived by "static" satellite images and believe that the Tombolo section as permanent relics of a man made bridge'.
'Deeper ocean currents don't enter the section between Sri Lanka and India because of the Cont Shelf. The sea surface in this section is dominated by longshore currents in two directions - one from Gulf of Mannar and other from Palk strait and they are in opposite direction', he writes.
Deeper ocean currents don't enter the section between Sri Lanka and India because of the Cont Shelf. The sea surface in this section is dominated by longshore currents in two directions - one from Gulf of Mannar and other from Palk strait and they are in opposite directions pic.twitter.com/TyyDmklhSL
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
Longshore currents bring a lot of sediments. And at the meeting point of the currents they settle and form these islands. Notice in the satellite images below how these islands change a lot owing to current direction, tides, etc. This is just a short term timelapse (<4 years) pic.twitter.com/pkMJuVHcm5
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
According to Raj Bhagat, the 'erosion is not limited to the section between Rameshwaram and Mannar', and has been happening between Thoothukudi and Mandapam, and a spit formation in Kodikarai which has formed Muthupet salt marshes.
The sediment accretion and erosion is not limited to the section between Rameshwaram and Mannar, deposition has been happening close to the group of islands between Thoothukudi and Mandapam. There is also a spit formation in Kodikarai which has formed Muthupet salt marshes pic.twitter.com/NSLRgqMQJB
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
In the past sediment accretion has led to new beach formations and has led to depression formations which are now dominated by salt pans across the east coast. pic.twitter.com/Dz4N4QECcg
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
What these tell is that these formations are caused by the sea n are not manmade. The desc/location of bridge as mentioned in epics don't match this either
¡ª Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) July 7, 2020
The future of this Tombolo is dependent on Sea level, Currents etc. It might either consolidate in future or might be lost!
'What these tell is that these formations are caused by the sea and are not manmade. The desc/location of bridge as mentioned in epics don't match this either The future of this Tombolo is dependent on Sea level, Currents etc. It might either consolidate in future or might be lost!', writes Raj Bhagat.
Last year, after more than 1,000 families were affected in Bengaluru's Hulimavu Lake Breach, Raj Bhagat Palanichamy posted images to explain how unplanned urbanisation have adversely affected flood plains across Bangalore, and asked authorities to take flood plain conservation more seriously.