Salinity dynamics in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh: influence of climate, freshwater inflow, and sea level changes

The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest, is under pressure from changing salinity due to climate change, reduced freshwater input from upstream rivers, and tidal dynamics in the Bay of Bengal. Despite its ecological and socio-economic significance, previous studies have not provided a comprehensive, location-specific assessment of salinity that explicitly links spatial heterogeneity with hydroclimatic drivers. This study synthesised and analysed the best available data in the Bangladesh Sundarbans over the 26 years to quantify the characteristics, trends, and interrelationships of these variables spatially and temporally. The results reveal that salinity has been consistently higher in the western part of the Sundarbans, and extreme salinity levels have increased since 2010. There has been a statistically significant decrease in the freshwater inflow from the Ganges through the Gorai River (at the Gorai railway bridge location) since the early 1980s, which has led to increased downstream salinity. Strong statistical correlations enabled robust predictions of salinity as a function of rainfall and temperature. A rising water level trend at Hiron Point is attributed to the rise in sea levels. The absence of long-term measurement data prevents the exploration of salinity dynamics in the numerous creeks that crisscross the mangrove ecosystem. It is crucial to establish continuous monitoring and assessment to better understand and manage the impacts of climate change and development on the Bangladesh Sundarbans and similar coastal ecosystems worldwide.

Graphical abstract