Shoreline defined as the physical interface of land and water is dynamic in nature and provides economic and social security to the coastal habitations. Tamil Nadu having a largest coastline i.e., approximately 1000 km faces multiple threats due to both natural and anthropogenic interventions as a result of disasters, rapid urbanization, industrialization, sand and coral mining etc. In the present study, an attempt was made to elucidate the accreting and eroding sites from multi temporal satellite images of Tamil Nadu coast (1978 to 2014) using geospatial techniques coupled with United States Geological Survey Digital Shoreline Analysis System (USGS DSAS). Rate of shoreline change were demarcated based on End Point Rate (EPR) and Linear Regression Rateof-change (LRR). Wave characteristics and its pattern along Tamil Nadu coast were studied, since it plays a major role in configuration of the shoreline position. Prograding shorelines are noticed at Tuticorin, parts of Chennai, Vedaranyam etc. This study provides a synoptic outlook of the degree of potential threat to the coastal system, to prioritize actions and to develop suitable adaptation measures.
Assessment of vulnerability is essential for identifying and recognizing the coastal livelihood, socio-economic and ecological security status. However, coastal vulnerability assessments require a complex dataset including human and socio-economic factors. In this study, we investigated coastal vulnerability index (CVI) to map the vulnerability of Tuticorin coast toward coastal erosion using remote sensing data and geographical information techniques based on a multi-indicator approach. Gulf of Mannar located along the southeast coast of India and declared as a marine national park with high ecological diversity faces threat due to anthropogenic interventions as a result of industrialization, sand and coral mining, etc. CVI highlights the vicinity where the physical effects may be the greatest. Beach width was considered as an additional parameter, since a large number of coastal habitations were present adjacent to the beach along the study area. Coastal erosion, slope and relative sea level rise are the major factors affecting the coastal vulnerability in Tuticorin. CVI scores were categorized into four classes, viz., low, moderate, high and very high risk. Out of 84-km coastal stretch, 15 % falls under high risk, 12 % moderate vulnerability and 73 % the low vulnerable category. This approach provides an insight to assess the vulnerability and the degree of potential threat to the coastal system in order to prioritize actions and to develop adaptation measures.
Climate change associated with sea level rise (SLR) is one of the major environmental concerns of today. This paper presents an assessment of the impacts of sea level rise on the coastal zone of Kanyakumari District in Tamilnadu, India. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) combined with overlay techniques in GIS are used in determining the inundation zones along the coastal region. The analysis evaluated the impact on coastal fishing villages, landuse, tourist spots and sensitive areas under threat. The vulnerability of the coastal areas in Kanyakumari to inundation was quantified, based on the projected sea level rise scenarios of 0.5 and 1 m. Our findings reveal that approximately 13 km 2 of the land area of Kanyakumari would be permanently inundated due to SLR. This would result in loss of land, alteration of the coastal zone and affects coastal ecosystem. From the study, the mitigation measures (engineering measures) and Coastal Zone Management practices that can be taken to protect human life and property from sea level rise are suggested.
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