According to a study by the University of Kerala, 2.62 sq km of land has already been washed away over a period of 14 years, seeking hybrid engineering solutions for coastal sustainability.
According to a study by the University of Kerala, 2.62 sq km of land has already been washed away over a period of 14 years, seeking hybrid engineering solutions for coastal sustainability.
Coastal erosion could change severely along large parts of the Thiruvananthapuram coast by 2027, a new study used machine learning techniques in conjunction with remote sensing data to analyze coastal variations.
As per the model, “Almost the entire stretch will experience severe erosion, with rates continuing to remain high between Shanghmugham and Anchuthengu. Consequently, coastal stability along the coastline requires suitable hybrid engineering solutions, particularly at these two locations, to “study” the assessment of coastal variations due to climate change using remote sensing and machine learning techniques: The case study ‘West Coast of India’ published by Elsevier said.
It also noted that over a period of 14 years, about 2.62 sq km of land has already been taken away from the edge, while 0.7 sq km of land has increased.
The study was carried out by the Department of Geology, University of Kerala (Jibin Pradeep, Subish Chandran CS, Ajas H., SG Dhanil Dev) with SS Vinod under the supervision of Shaji E., Associate Professor and Head of the Department. Chandra of the University’s Department of Computer Science and DS Suresh Babu of the National Center for Earth Science Studies.
42 km. sharp cut in
The study covered 57.5 km in Thiruvananthapuram district, Pozhiyur to Anchuthengu, and analyzed coastal variations from 2006 to 2020 to estimate variations on the same stretch by 2027. It was noted that about 42 km face intense erosion, 13 km face accretion. , and faces neither accretion nor erosion in about three km.
The study said that if the current rate of erosion continues, Shanghmugham and the surrounding airport area could be affected within five years, underscoring the need to protect this section. “Artificial reefs should be constructed in Shanghmugham to modify the local wave environment through wave transformation. The structure will tend to change wave energy and direction, causing changes in sediment or sand transport. This will help in rebuilding the beach over a period of five years.”
sandy beaches will disappear
Taking into account the entire stretch (from Pozhiyur to Anchuthengu), the study predicts that erosion will continue to be a “major coastal process”, leading to the disappearance of sandy beaches. The coastline from Veli beach to Kadinamkulam and Poonthura to Veli beach shows the maximum length of erosion. The stretch between Mullur to Vizhinjam port sees accretion. The study said that there is no change in some areas between Mullur and Vizhinjam port and Perumathura and Anchuthengu and the areas are in equilibrium.
The study noted the inadequacy of hard shoreline structures such as breakwaters and groins to protect the coast. It “brings relief at one end while unprecedented erosion occurs above and below the structures,” it noted.