Beach processes and nearshore hydrodynamics of dhanushkodi rameswaram india

Abstract

Rameswaram Island located between Gulf of Mannar GoM on the south and Palk Bay PB on the north is unique and critic by physical chemical and biological processes GoM is established as marine bio reserve area by the richness of variety and variability of marine species such as corals fishes fin fishes shell fishes etc The Rameswaram Island is predominantly influenced by four seasons northeast monsoon post monsoon summer and southwest monsoon and the Island responds different manner due to the geographic setting The present study focus on understanding the shoreline dynamics nearshore processe and sediment transport around Rameswaram Island Dhanushkodi and Arichamunai The study was carried out for the period from October 2011 to September 2012 Grain size of seabed and beach sediments were given as input for the modeling while satellite data were used to analyze the decadal variations of shoreline and its stability The study provides an understanding of physical forces and the impacts around the Rameswaram Island Dhanushkodi and Arichamunai Rameswaram Island withstands naturally for a longer period even with prevailing different water masses of GoM and PB The southeastern part of Rameswaram Island known as Dhanushkodi foreland is a long sand spit of about 20 km length Using Indian Remote sensing Satellite Linear Imaging Self scanning Sensor III images from 1998 to 2012 shoreline erosion accretion rates were computed based on End Point Rate and Linear Regression Rate Erosion is dominant along the PB coast of Dhanushkodi foreland and vice-versa along GoM Statistical approaches affirm the changes in inter-annual shoreline trend and the stability of Island An equilibrium shoreline trend is noticed at both the sides of Dhanushkodi foreland Annual shoreline change rate indicates erosion and accretion in the northern and southern coastline of Dhanushkodi foreland respectively newline