Multi hazard vulnerability assessment along tuticorin coast gulf of mannar india using geospatial techniques

Abstract

Coastal zones are exposed to a variety of hazards due to the interaction between marine and terrestrial systems Assessment of vulnerability is essential for identifying and recognizing the coastal livelihood socio economic and ecological security status However coastal vulnerability assessments require a complex dataset including human and socio-economic factors Tuticorin is an urbanized district in Tamil Nadu The northern part of the coast is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world i e Gulf of Mannar whereas the southern side comprises of major industries saltpans settlements estuaries etc Gulf of Mannar is located along the southeast coast of India and is declared as a marine national park with high ecological diversity but faces threat due to anthropogenic interventions as a result of industrialization sand and coral mining etc In the present study an attempt has been made to compute the vulnerability of natural and anthropogenic hazards along Tuticorin coast and suggested measures to protect the coastal communities infrastructures and resources by using Remote Sensing and geospatial techniques Natural hazards considered were coastal erosion cyclone coastal flooding drought earthquake and tsunami Anthropogenic hazards include air groundwater and coastal water quality In addition to these hazards coping capacity index was also computed to assess the socio economic conditions along Tuticorin coast A multi level comprehensive approach combined with spatial and field observations were used to analyze the natural and anthropogenic risks and to assess the coastal vulnerability for Tuticorin newlineFinally those hazards were integrated with Drivers Pressures State Impactsvi Responses DPSIR framework to have a better and comprehensive perceptive of the natural and anthropogenic hazards affecting the coastal newlineenvironment including socio economic conditions of the Tuticorin coast Vulnerability line for Tuticorin coast was computed using 100 years flood line and rate of shoreline change newline newline