Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
09:19
Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging
Published on: April 18, 2025
405
Physical features of Adam's Bridge interpreted from ICESat-2 based high-resolution digital bathymetric elevation
Giribabu Dandabathula1, Koushik Ghosh2, Rohit Hari2
1Regional Remote Sensing Centre - West, National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Jodhpur, India. dgb.isro@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|June 28, 2024
Summary
Adam's Bridge, a submerged ridge connecting India and Sri Lanka, is primarily underwater. High-resolution bathymetric data reveals its structure and confirms it as a submarine continuation of the nearby islands.
Area of Science:
- Geomorphology
- Oceanography
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Adam's Bridge is a submerged geological feature connecting India and Sri Lanka.
- It is generally described as a chain of shoals approximately 29 km long.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intricate structural details of Adam's Bridge.
- To generate high-resolution bathymetric data for a comprehensive analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized photons from the ICESat-2 satellite's green laser to create a 10m resolution bathymetric model.
- Analyzed the bathymetric data using 3D perspectives, contours, slope, and volumetric analysis.
Main Results:
- Confirmed Adam's Bridge as a submarine continuation of Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar Island.
- Identified undulating crest lines with sudden depth variations and asymmetric slopes.
- Calculated the total volume of Adam's Bridge as approximately 1 km³; 99.98% is submerged.
Conclusions:
- Adam's Bridge is predominantly a submerged feature, with only a small fraction visible above sea level.
- The geomorphology suggests material transport influenced more by the Gulf of Mannar than the Palk Strait.
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