Coastal Hazard Zonation between Vembar and Kallar Coasts of Tuticorin using High Resolution Satellite Images and GIS

Some of the most vulnerable and hazardous regions of the Indian subcontinent, stretching more than 7000 km with high population density lie along the coastal borders. Most of these zones are frequented by several hazards, like storms, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal effects and similar natural and weather-related calamities. While natural hazards like flood and drought-which too cause widespread destruction and death-can be minimized and controlled, mitigation in coastal sectors expecting forewarning and evacuation-stands beyond human control. In our study the remote sensing techniques and beach profile studies have been attempted to identify the geomorphic features and shoreline changes. LISS III 2001 and LISSIII and PAN merged data of the year 2001 have been utilized to prepare the coastal geomorphologic features. In addition, Geographic Information System (GIS) software's viz ARCGIS 10 version is used as a tool to delineate the coastal hazard zonation map for better perspective management. Beach profile studies have also been carried out to delineate the changes in the beach morphology. The variables like coastal geomorphology, geology, shoreline changes, and degree of shoreline stabilization, over wash penetration, wave damage and regional tectonic movements have been integrated to delineate the coastal hazard in the study area. Based on the GIS analysis and the degree of coastal erosion, it has been classified as (i) very high, (ii) high (iii) medium (iv) low. Thus the study area has been categorized into four different zones viz. (i) very high at Kalaignanapuram, (ii) high at Periyasamypuram and Sippikulam (iii) medium (iv) low at Vembar and Pachyapuram. Based on the zonation classification, we have prepared the coastal risk map.