Seasonal and Medium Term Changes in the Shoreline Position at Selected Stations on Malabar Coast, Kerala

Abstract

1)Coastal environment data pertaining to wave parameters, wind, littoral current, beach characteristics and shoreline position are being collected from the selected stations on the Kerala coast since 1973. To assess the changes during different seasons and years, shoreline positions at different points are measured regularly with respect to the reference point. Analysis of shoreline position from stations located on Malabar (northern Kerala) coast revealed that the fluctuation is maximum during south-west monsoon followed by non-monsoon season. Different stations show different pattern of shoreline changes like fluctuation, erosion, stable and accretion. The maximum changes in the shoreline position (erosion) happened at Kozhikode whereas at Padinjare Vemballur, the changes are the minimum (accretion).