Coastal zone management in India − present status and future needs

Abstract

The coastal zone is a region where land, ocean and atmosphere interact and hence it is dynamic in nature. India has a long coastline which was not adequately monitored until the advent of the satellite remote sensing era in the 70s. India has a very robust remote sensing program that the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) series of satellites were effectively used to monitor coastal habitats, landforms, shoreline, water quality, etc., and changes were identified during the last 40 years. The classification system for coastal habitats and the classification and geometric accuracies of products were standardized. Detailed information for mangroves communities and characteristics of coral reefs were generated. The high and low tide lines were delineated seamlessly for the entire coastline using satellite data. All these data were organized in a GIS and the coastal database for the entire country was created. Impacts of various hazards on such as cyclones, tsunami and sea level changes on coastal habitats were documented. Based on topography, shoreline changes and tides, coastal multi-hazard vulnerability maps were characterized by employing the elevation data derived from satellite data and were prepared for the coastline of India. The information on ocean color and sea surface temperature was used to generate potential fishery advisories, which are provided daily to fishermen. The coastal database was utilized effectively to identify coastal regulation zones, marine protected areas, vulnerable zones, etc. Various services for tsunami, fishery and coral reef bleaching were generated for societal benefits. It is planned to develop models for the coastal zone, so that impeding dangers and likely changes in the coastal zone can be predicted and suitable actions can be undertaken. It is necessary to integrate socioeconomic data with the knowledge database of coastal zone to understand the impact of anthropogenic activities and the changing climate on the coastal zone.

Vulnerability of south east coastal villages of India on sea level rise

“…Vulnerability Index of Tamil Nadu coastal zone. Geospatial information technology can contribute greatly to develop such models (Nayak, 2017). The current study has identified the most vulnerable coastal villages through the vulnerability mapping of LECZ regions based on average population density and hence can aid in the development of disaster management plans for the east coast of India.…”

Scenario-Based Hydrological Modeling for Designing Climate-Resilient Coastal Water Resource Management Measures: Lessons from Brahmani River, Odisha, Eastern India

“…Interactions between the land, ocean, and atmosphere in the coastal zone makes it highly dynamic in terms of structure and functioning [1]. Due to the high productivity of coastal areas, they are also among the most exploited and threatened geomorphic units and ecosystems on the earth [2].…”

“…Sustainable management of the coastal zone requires accurate information on the various aspects that affect it, e.g., information on the local coastal habitats, coastal processes, natural hazards and their impacts, water quality, and living resources [1]. Effective management practices also depend on indigenous/local knowledge and suitable responses from concerned government agencies.…”

Spatial–Spectral Fusion of HY-1C COCTS/CZI Data for Coastal Water Remote Sensing Using Deep Belief Network

“…They are important ecological systems and vital assets for many nations, which are also complex and dynamic environments where a vast array of coupled biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes occur over multiple temporal and spatial scales [2]. Coastal areas (within 100 km from the coast) are regions where land, ocean and atmosphere interact, with approximately 60% of the world's population, and have a direct interface with food supply and human health [3,4]. Coastal waters are under pressure from direct human activities and climate changes due to their close proximity to human population [5,6].…”