Marine Biology

Underground Discharge of Mud from Backwaters

This theory was put forwarded by John Rhode in 1886. He started that the mud bank at Alleppy is formed by an underground discharge of mud by the hydraulic pressure developed during the monsoon due to the increased water level. The addition of water during monsoon season increases the hydraulic pressure from above towards the bottom. This dispels and forces the bottom mud into the sea, which moves out as underground mud. The mud volcanises and cones bubbles up and bursts at the surface forming the mud banks. This theory does not account for the lack of mud banks in Vembanad and other regions.