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Coastal morphology and beach stability along Thiruvananthapuram, south-west coast of India

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Abstract

Shoreline changes are largely dependent on coastal morphology. South-west coast of India is a high energy coast characterised by monsoon high waves, steep beach face and medium-sized beach sand. Waves are generally from west and west south-west during rough monsoon season and from south-west during fair weather season. Shoreline change along this coast is studied with reference to coastal morphological features. Various morphological features, modifications and chronological positions of shoreline are analysed with the information derived from multidated satellite imageries, toposheets and GPS shoreline mapping along with extended field survey. Image processing and GIS techniques have been used for the analysis of data and presentation of results. Sediment accumulation on the leeward side of artificial structures such as harbour breakwaters and groynes is used as a sediment transport indicator. Artificial structures such as seawalls, groynes and harbour breakwaters modify morphology. Shoreline south of headlands/promontories and breakwaters are stable or accreting due to net northerly longshore sediment transport while erosion tendency is observed on the north side. Lateritic cliffs fronting the sea or with seasonal beach undergo slumping and cliff edge retreat as episodic events. Spits adjoining tidal inlets are prone to shoreline variations due to oscillations of inlet mouth. Interventions in the form of inlet stabilization and construction of coastal protection structures trigger erosion along adjoining coasts. Seawalls constructed along highly eroding coasts get damaged, whereas those constructed along monsoon berm crest with frontal beaches for protection against monsoon wave attack are retained. Fishing gaps within seawalls are areas of severe temporary erosion during rough monsoon season. Accretion or erosion accompanies construction of harbour breakwaters in a stable coastal plain. Close dependence of shoreline changes on morphology necessitates detailed understanding of impacts on morphology prior to introducing any intervention in the coastal zone.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Director, National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) for providing the facilities. The support provided by Ajeesh N. R., Sreekanth K., Vimal K. C., Badarees K.O., and other colleagues in the Marine Science Division of NCESS is gratefully acknowledged. Support of Dr. R. S. Kankara, Scientist F and Group Head, Coastal Processes and Shoreline Mapping Group, ICMAM PD in facilitating certain parts of the study under Shoreline Management Plan project is greatly acknowledged.

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  1. Noujas Varangalil

    Present address: Project Scientist, ICMAM PD, Chennai, 600100, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, India

    Neelima Thankappan, Noujas Varangalil, Thomas Kachapally Varghese & Kurian Njaliplackil Philipose

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  1. Neelima Thankappan
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  2. Noujas Varangalil
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  3. Thomas Kachapally Varghese
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  4. Kurian Njaliplackil Philipose
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Correspondence to Noujas Varangalil.

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Thankappan, N., Varangalil, N., Kachapally Varghese, T. et al. Coastal morphology and beach stability along Thiruvananthapuram, south-west coast of India. Nat Hazards 90, 1177–1199 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3090-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3090-1

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