Tropical Deltas: Fragility, Resiliency, and Sustainability

Tropical deltas of the world are in decline and are threatened by climate change, geo-environmental dynamics, natural hazards, and disasters. This book is a comprehensive discussion of the present delta crisis and the various risks the deltas are facing due to human and natural factors. It addresses their resilience, the importance of biodiversity, and the future adaptations for sustainable management of tropical deltas. The use of geospatial tools for the assessment and modeling of environmental degradations and the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are examined in 22 chapters, from different major deltas of the world, to help readers understand the interdisciplinary perspective of deltas’ vulnerability and sustainability. Features Provides comprehensive coverage of global tropical deltas, their physical environments, hazard profiles, and socio-economic threats in a changing climate. Includes research-based discussions blended with global case studies to demonstrate the status of deltas around the world and the status of field-based investigations. Offers a holistic understanding of multifaceted dimensions of delta crises due to changes in landscape ecology, and the impact of various natural and man-made hazards. Addresses the critical challenges of sustainable management using a modeling approach with spatial maps and geostatistical diagrams. Discusses perspectives of restoring delta systems around the globe for solving environmental and societal problems. This reference book is for researchers, academics, graduate and senior undergraduate students in geography, geomorphology, hydrology, regional planning, environmental science, ecology, and engineering, and those interested in water conservation and sustainability, including professionals in industry and government, and human rights activists.