Coastal Geomorpgological Mapping of Tirunelveli District, Southern Tamilnadu Using GIS

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Volume-6, Issue-2, March-April 2016 International Journal of Engineering and Management Research Page Number: 569-572

Coastal Geomorpgological Mapping of Tirunelveli District, Southern Tamilnadu using GIS

M.Rajamanikam1, B.Jose Ravindra Raj2, Sathiyan.R3, Chandra Prasath.V.T.S4, Mahendran.M5, Punithavathy.U6, Mariasusai.M7 1,2Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, PRIST UNIVERSITY, Trichy-Thanjavur Highway,Vallam, Thanjavur, INDIA 3,4,5,6,7Post Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, PRIST UNIVERSITY, Thanjavur Highway,Vallam, Thanjavur, INDIA

ABSTRACT bizarre phenomena, though not frequent, that could potentially The main objective of this study is to bring out beach front alter the coastal setting and perturb the routine coastal trend geomorphological landforms from Mandabam to Kanyakumari namely storm surge and other coastal hazards of which now using GIS and field data.The study region classified into tsunami has attained a special attention. [1]The waves, tides, depositional, erosional and Fluvio-Marine Landforms.The wave-induced currents, wind-induced currents interact with depositional components like, beach ridges,swales,spit, sand each other to produce energy input which shapes and alters the dunes.The erosional elements like wave-cut Platform, marine Terrace and fluvio marine lanforms like deltaic plain, flood coastal setting. Apart from these natural phenomena and plain noticed.from the investigation, it has been found that the processes, there is also another dimension by which the satellite information is exceptionally helpful and successful for coastal environment could be altered negatively or damaged getting the aftereffects of fleeting changes. The present study totally, particularly by sand mining. Beach sand mining, when highlighted the strength of GIS in mapping of coastal landforms. not executed by proper techniques and methods, could modify the coastal landform and may threaten the accumulation of Keywords--- beach,GIS,Swales,marine terrace workable valuable minerals in future.

II. STUDY AREA I. INTRODUCTION The study area extends from Vembar to Kanyakumari (N India has an extensive coastline of about 7500 km and a 770 98’ E 080 34’ and N 780 16’ E 080 79’) along the enormous exclusive economic zone of more than 2.1 million southern coastal tract of Tamilnadu State, India covering about 2 km including the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep 110 km. Islands enriched with workable deposit of placer minerals. The It falls under the districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and stability of the coastal zone is predisposed by number of Kanyakumari. It is bounded in the north eastern side by foot- environmental factors, primarily due to geological, biological, shaped Rameswaram Island; in the East by Bay of Bengal; in meteorological and oceanographical parameters which is not the west by Western Ghat and in the south by Kanyakumari identical and varies from one part of the coast to another. No coast which is characterised by the confluence of Indian single beach is analogous, precisely, to another and even a Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal (Figure. 1) beach is not similar spatially and temporally. Quite a lot of factors and phenomenon are involved in the alteration of the III. METHDOLOGY coastal landforms. Some of them are customary which includes waves, tides, wind, river input, etc., and there are also

3. Spit A spit formation represents prograding nature of coastline. Loveson and Rajamanickam (1987) have pointed out the spit formation and the process of progradation taking place at Periyapattinam (far north of Tuticorin). The hook shaped spit is trending towards SE direction, having a link with mainland in SW direction. In the absence of any river discharge in Periyapattinam area, the dumping of sediments from offshore by littoral currents (velocity 1.8 knots/hr) is suggested as the probable cause for spit development [10] Another prominent spit formation is noticed about 2 km south of Tuticorin.The spit growth is attributed to the deposition of sediments discharged from Thamirabharani River by longshore currents of monsoonal period [11] Fig.1.Study Area 4. Sand Dunes In Tuticorin, complex dune systems show widespread IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS occurrence. It covers an area of 1.5 - 2 km from the coastline. The coastal stretch of Thiruchendur - Alantalai is marked by A. Depositional Landforms raised sand dunes ( 4-6 km height) whereas from Alantalai- The coastal geomorphology map was prepared (Fig.2) Vadakkur, the complex sand dunes are represented by narrow the following landforms are identified and linear, longitudinal dunes of undulatory nature.[12] At 1. Beach Ridges Thiruchendur, the dune complex is about 7 m in height. In In the study area, the beach ridges are well developed dunes, medium-coarse grains represent the texture of the over Teri dune complex without any preferential disposition in sediments. Massive Teri dune complexes are noticed in the coastal plain between Thiruchendur and Navaladi (north of Tuticorin region. They are elongated in nature with circular to Periyathalai). Along Manappad-Periyathalai area, beach ridges ovoid shape, spreading for about 10 km in length, 6 km in show a convergence. The age of the beach ridges is dated to width and 61-68 m in height. It contains feldspar, garnet, 4000 - 6000 years B.P. [2-5].Almost all the beach ridges in the zircon and opaque minerals. study area are parallel. 5. Teri Dune Complex 2. Swales In the coastal zone between south of Vaippar River and In the study area, swales of linear depressions with clay Tuticorin (close Maravanmadam), seven patches of sand and silty clay deposits are commonly noticed between the dunes are noticed.Teri hill edifices have been seen with a thick beach ridges.[6-9] A longer (28 km) and wider (2.5 km) swale front of vegetation.They are stretched with vegetation and oval system divides the coastal region of Sippikulam (north of shape beach.In the northern range of Panaiyur (Tuticorin Tuticorin) – Punnakayal (Thamirabharani River Mouth) into District),oval formed Teri ridges with meager vegetation have two parts. In the coastal sector of Thiruchendur - been noticed.The areal extent of this hill has been figured to Kulasekaranpatinam swales are converted into dry tanks. The be 6.27 km2. Another two Teri hills have been seen close basin bed is composed of silt and mud. The adjacent low lying Kumarapuram(Tuticorin District). They cover a region of 2.67 area, as a part of swale zone is used at present for salt km2. Close to Milavittan (Tuticorin District),adjusted ridge production. complex has been seen with thick vegetation.The territory of this rise has been evaluated to be 4.27 km2. Close Milavittan 77°40' 78°20' 79°00' 79°40' Vaigai R. (Tuticorin District),little adjusted patches of Teri ridge N

Ë Ë r Ë complex covering a region of 2 km has been watched. Two #Y r Gundar R. Ë Valinokkam Mandapam Ë other Teri rise buildings have been seen close Maravanmatam Vembar R. Gulf of Mannar zone with thick vegetation.They cover a region of 3.08 km2. 9°00' #Y 9°00' Vembar Along Nazareth and Ittamozhi (Tuticorin r Coral Terrace Thamirabharani R. Ë Marine Terrace District),conspicuous Teri rise buildings are additionally #Y q Seacliff Thoothukudii Swale Salt Pan unmistakably taken note. All Teri hill buildings here are Stabilised Dune Partially Stabilised Dune slanting in the upper east to southeast course [13] Ë 8°20' Thiiruchendur Tank/Backwater 8°20' Beach Ridge Ë B. Erosional Features Manappad Shallow Pediments 1. Marine Terrace q Bay of Bengal 0 30 Kilometers In Thiruchendur, four very much characterized patios are #Y Kanyakumarii 77°40' 78°20' 79°00' 79°40' stamped with a tallness of around 12.4 m.The whole

Fig.2.Coastal geomorphology map arrangement is comprised of shoreline rocks of marine calcareous sandstone and it is profound tissue shading. The

570 Copyright © 2016. Vandana Publications. All Rights Reserved. www.ijemr.net ISSN (ONLINE): 2250-0758, ISSN (PRINT): 2394-6962 sand grains are very much sorted and medium grained. The dynamics of various landforms features with the related smallness of such porches shifts from stage to coastal processes by using advanced geo-processing tools. stage.Weathered calcareous sandstone frames the main two Even though it is elucidated the information on landform patios took after by reduced calcareous sandstone. The shells features and the related coastal processes,the study leads to of gastropod and pelecypods are likewise seen yet less sums. further research and developments for coastal zone Close to the patio divided and segregated, components are management seen inside of the restricted intertidal zones [14] In Manappad, four marine terraces levels are noticed REFERENCES inside of the huge hill framework was seen to an elevation of 25 m. The slant of the rise complex is steep. Four terraces are [1] A.M. Bernabeua;Ã, R. Medina, C. Vidal A morphological perceived inside of the ridge framework.The highest point of model of the beach pro¢le integrating waveand tidal in£uences the terraces comprises of shoreline rocks made up of [2]Anfuso,G.,Benavente,J.,Del Rıó,L.,Castiglione,E., calcareous sandstone. Minimized and hard calcareous rocks Ventorre,M., 2003. Sand transport and disturbance depth are found to speak to, the following level of the terraces which during a single tidal cycle in a dissipative beach: La Barrosa is 7m down. Further 17 m down sandstone is available which (SW Spain).Proc.3rd IAHR Symp.Riv.,Coast.Estuar. is predominant of calcareous matter.The hardness of the Morphod.2,1176–1186 distinctive rock sorts is fluctuating from stature at the top to [3] Bagnold, R.A., 1940. Beach formation by waves: some low at the base porch. Rocks found in all levels are for the modelexperiments in a wave tank. J. Inst. Civil Eng. 15, most part extreme and hard. 27^52. 2. Wave-cut Platform [4] Balouin, Y., Ciavola, P., Anfuso, G., Armaroli, C., Corbau, In rocky beaches discontinuous pattern of wave-cut C.,Tessari, U., in press. Morphodynamics of intertidal sand platform was noticed in Mandapam, Vedalai, Pudumadam, bars: and Valinokkam areas. Wave-cut cliff and caves were also [5] Bascom, W.N., 1951. The relationship between sand size seen at Terkumukkaiyur, Navaladi, Idinthakarai, Kanyakumari and beach face slope. Trans. AGU 32, 866^874.beach in coastlines. Generally, these are made up of hard compact Southern Portugal. Boletıń Instituto Espanõl de calcareous sandstone. The height of the cliffs may vary from [6]ciavola, p., taborda, r., ferreira, o., dias, j.a., 1997. field 2-5 m.[15] observations of sand-mixing depths on steep beaches. 3. Fluvio-Marine Landforms mar.geol. 141, 147– 156. 3.1 Deltaic plain [7]Folk, R.L. and Ward, M.S.(1957) Brazos river bars: A Fluvial processes predominantly control deltaic plains. In study in the significance of grain size parameters. J. the study area, deltaic plain is considered to be of Pleistocene Sed.Petrol., Vol.27,pp.3-27. to Recent age [16] The areas around the river course of [8]Friedman, GM. (1961) distinction between dune , beach Thamirabharani have vast deltas but at present they are found and river sands from their textural to be inactive. Flat and vast areas, having vegetation cover, characteristics.J.sed.petrol.,Vol.28,pp.151-153. marked the deltaic plains. Number of tanks has been noticed [9] Friedman, GM. (1967) dynamic processes and statistical on the deltaic plains.Rich growth of coastal vegetations like parameters compared for size frequency distribution of beach salt marsh and mangroves are noticed along the plain. and river sands.J.Sed.Petrol.,Vol,37,pp327-354 4. Fluvial Landforms [10] Gardner, R. A. M. 1986, The stratigraphy and quarternary 4.1. Flood plain coastal sediments of SW India, Mand and Environment, Streams typically have their floors secured with alluvium, V:10,pp. 59-73.Geol. 141, 147– 156. in which the ordinary stream channel is secured.[17].The [11]Jackson, N.L., Nordstrom, K.F., 1993. Depth of activation surface of low land area covered with the alluvium from the of sediment by plunging breakers on a steep sand beach. Mar. banks of the low-water channel to the base of the valley Geol.115, 143– 151 dividers is known as the surge plain of a river.Flood plain and [12] James C. Gibeaut, Tiffany Hepner, Rachael Waldinger, their major morphologic subdivisions are basically stored John Andrews, Roberto Gutierrez, Thomas A. Tremblay, landforms.Floodplain has been obviously seen along the Rebecca Smyth; With assistance from Liying Xu A Report of riverbank of Thamirabharani River along the study area.This the Texas Coastal Coordination Council pursuant to National surge plain is inert and is secured with thick vegetation. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA97OZ0179. V. CONCLUSION [13]Johnson, J.W., 1956. Dynamics of nearshore sediment trans-port. Bull. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. 40, 2211^2232. The present study has been very useful to understand the [14] King, C.A.M., 1951. Depth of disturbance of sand on sea dynamics of coastal landforms such as beaches, shorelines, beaches by aves. J. Sediment. Petrol. 21 (3), 131– 140.35 (3), sand dunes, etc. and also focused on the coastal- landform 604–609. dynamics along the coast of Tirunelveli using remote sensing [15]King,C.A.M.,1972. Beaches and Coasts. Edward and GIS technologies.It primarily analysed the state and Arnold,London.Littoral’ 94, 26– 29.

[16] Mohan,P.N. and Rajamanickam ,G.V.(1998)Depositional environments inferred from grain size along the coast of Tamilnadu,India.J.Geol.Soc.India,Vol.52. [17]Mohan,P.N. and Rajamanickam ,G.V.(2000)Identification of coastal placer deposites along the coast between Maduranthagam and Madras. Unpubl.Technical report, Department of Sci. and Tech., New Delhi,180 P.