Coastal Shoreline Change in Eastern Indian Metropolises

Abstract

The coastal regions of India have a high population density and are ecologically productive. However, they are also susceptible to both human activity and natural calamities, which can lead to erosion and accretion. As part of the sustainable management of coastal zones, these threats have taken precedence in evaluating shoreline dynamicity. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating remote sensing and geographic information systems for comprehensive long-term coastal change analyses. The analysis reveals that the mean erosion rate along the Chennai coast ranges from −0.2 to −2.5 m/year. Accretion is also recorded along certain parts of the Chennai coast, with rates ranging from 1 to 4.6 m/year. The Vishakhapatnam shoreline has a consistent pattern of both erosion and accretion, with erosion rates ranging from −0.1 to −6.8 m/year and accretion from 0.2 to 5 m/year. However, most of the Puri coast exhibits an accretion pattern, with values ranging from approximately 0.1 to 3.22 m/year. The fluctuations in shorelines of these three metropolises are a matter of great concern, given that these coastal cities play a substantial part in India’s economic and cultural endeavors. The ongoing occurrence of climate change and global warming has led to an elevation in the worldwide sea level, along with a heightened intensity and frequency of extreme occurrences like tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, where these three coasts are situated. The coastlines of these urban areas may experience alterations due to natural phenomena like rising sea levels and tropical cyclones, as well as a diverse array of human activity. This study may help to facilitate the formulation of suitable management strategies and regulations for the coastal areas of Vishakhapatnam, Puri, Chennai, and other Indian coastal places that have similar physical attributes.