New Moore Island, No More

From..... David Mumford [Collins Geo Newsroom Co-ordinator]
To......... Kenneth Gibson [Collins Geo Database Co-ordinator]
Subject. New Moore island, no more

Kenny,
Had an email from a colleague, about an island that has disappeared (he saw an article on the BBC online yesterday). I’ve done some research and want you to check out the cartographic databases to see what needs to be done - to keep them up to date.

Background
The tiny island, named New Moore Island or Purbasha in India, or South Talpatti Island in Bangladesh was first charted after the Bhola cyclone in 1970. According to the references I’ve looked at, it was in the Bay of Bengal, in the Sundarbans area, south of the Hariabhanga river which delineates the international border between Bangladesh and India. It had been claimed by both countries since it appeared nearly forty years ago. It was very small (3x3 km at low tide), low lying (less than 2 m high) and had no permanent settlements.

The School of Oceanographic Studies in Calcutta commented that the disappearance of the island was confirmed by satellite imagery and sea patrols, and was probably due to rising sea levels in the Bay. "What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking, has been resolved by global warming," said Sugata Hazra the School’s Professor.

Action
I’ve looked at some of our atlases and we don’t seem to show it (due to the small scales and because this island was so small itself). Could you check our largest scale database of this area to see if we show it, and if we do, it can be removed. I presume it will not be on smaller scale databases?


The map is from the latest Comp [Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World 12th edition] plate 30 at 1:2,500,000 and shows the general location.






If you are interested here are some links:
BBC News online Disputed Bay of Bengal island 'vanishes' say scientists
Times of India New Moore isle no more, expert blames warming
Wikipedia South Talpatti Island
School of Oceanographic Studies, Kolkata

Let me know what you do.

David.
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From..... Kenneth Gibson
To........ David Mumford
Subject. RE: New Moore island, no more

Dave,
The data that we hold and maintain for this area of the world has a largest nominal scale of 1:2,000,000. Therefore, this island was too small to show anyway and no changes are required.
Kenny