Coastal Geo-Environmental Hazards and Its Management
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Archives of Current Research International 10(3): 1-12, 2017; Article no.ACRI.36601 ISSN: 2454-7077 Coastal Geo-environmental Hazards and Its Management Subhankar Patra1* 1Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Author’s contribution The sole author designed, analyzed and interpreted and prepared the manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/ACRI/2017/36601 Editor(s): (1) Kaveh Ostad-Ali-Askari, Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran. Reviewers: (1) Okon Emmanuel Etim, University of Calabar, Nigeria. (2) R. D. Mavunda, Radiation Protection Training Centre, South Africa. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/21774 Received 1st September 2017 Accepted 17th October 2017 Original Research Article th Published 7 November 2017 ABSTRACT This paper assessed and cartographically analysed the impact of recent coastal geo-environmental hazards upon coastal resources and also human life. Cyclonic storms, high wave action, tidal bore, coastal flood and also coastal erosion are the main geo-environmental hazards over the Bay of Bengal coastal area especially Kanthi coastal tract of west Bengal. Sea surface temperature over a period of 50 years was observed through this study to be changing up to the magnitude of about 0.019°C/year over the Bay of Bengal between the period from 1972-2005. As a result accelerated trend for the genesis and favourable condition for the sever cyclone of 1978, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and local sea level has risen, on average 15 cm/last 3 decades. High wave action and coastal flood due to cyclonic storms and also high rainfall during the monsoon seasons (In record and evidence of highest sea gauge during the last 30 years generally increasing which relatively 2 m to 3 m) have been affected to coastal environment. On the other hand, coastal erosion is another geomorphic hazard identified in this study to be due to high wave action during the cyclonic period and also monsoonal season. In result about 25 m to 50 m/year coastal land has been eroded at Digha-Shankarpur and adjoining coastal tract. For this reason, the popular and famous beach tourism spot Digha-Mandarmoni of West Bengal has been extremely affected and also destroyed the gentle sea beach in recent time. Agricultural crops mainly food grains, vegetables, cashew nut, betelvine and many commercial crops and horticulture have been affected by the geo-environmental hazards of this area. So, resource depletion and resource crisis _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]; Patra; ACRI, 10(3): 1-12, 2017; Article no.ACRI.36601 are the main problems of this area in recent time. Other hand the numerous number of geo environmental hazards through the year have been attacked to the coastal inhabitant. For the reason coastal people of the Kanthi coastal area has been suffering continually during the last 50 years. As a result thousands of people are environmentally refugee. So, it is right for the planning of coastal zone management by the proper and cartographic techniques. Keywords: Sea surface temperature; local sea level; environmental hazards. 1. INTRODUCTION that the global sea level will rise by about 60 cm by 2100 AD. By field investigation and Coastal zone is the area of interaction between throughout variation of highest sea gauge 1977 land and sea. It includes both terrestrial as well to 2012, evidence indicate that a general sea as marine resources, which may be renewable level rise along this coastal tract. (In record and as well as non-renewable. In addition, evidence of highest sea gauge during the last 30 interactions between various natural processes years generally increasing which relatively 2 m to and human activities are important factors in the 3 m). Through the highest sea gauge data and coastal area. Coastal communities are more field investigation it’s have been detected that vulnerable to climate change because in addition the local sea level has risen remarkable along to metrological parameters they are also affected this area over the last 30 years, the rise of sea by changes in oceanic parameters, especially gauge and also local sea level increasing about increases in sea level and wave heights that will 15 cm/last 3 decades. Digha - Junput coastal in some cases represent physical social and tract over which this study has concentrated is a economic impacts on community. The coastline part of Kanthi coastal plain of Purba Medinipur, of West Bengal along the Bay of Bengal is about West Bengal (Fig. 1). The extents of the study around 350 km and is dominated by the Ganga area is between Latitude 21°36′50″N to delta, which covers around 60 percent of this 21°43′00″N and Longitude 87°29 ′40″E to coastline. The elevation of the coast in the 87°49′30″E. The length from Digha to Junput southernmost region is <3 m above the sea level coastal tract is 45 km and it has 4 blocks are [1]. This coastal tract can be divided into two Ramnagar-I, Ramnagar-II, Contai-I, Contai-II. distinct zones based on the continuous erosion The elevation of the coast in the southernmost and accretion. When the resultant sediment region is <3 m above the sea level [1]. transport entering a particular area is greater than the sediment going out from the area, 1.1 Objectives accretion or beach development takes place. On the other hand, when there is a deficit of the Geo environmental study of any a coastal area in incoming sediment supply into a particular area India appears to be a real challenge because of with reference to the sediment going out of the it’s over changing conditions as well as the lack same area, beach erosion takes place. So, of availability of sufficient data. For the study of coastal erosion is the most important geomorphic geo-environmental viz: coastal erosion, shifting hazard in recent time of this area. According to of shoreline, change of geomorphology and land the researchers, the major cause of coastal use is influenced by the micro level local change erosion and shoreline change is sea level rise of sea level. Based on the forgoing scenario this [2]. Sea level rise is one of the frequently effects investigation has been carried out the following of global warming which has a direct role in objectives: coastal erosion. It is a particularly ominous threat to the human community because a number of 1. To study the changing climatic events large cities and 10% of the world’s population through the last century (1917-2017). live in coastal areas within an elevation of 10 m 2. To find out the changing nature of from mean sea level [3]. According to Miller and geomorphic hazards of this area. Dougla (2004), the global sea level has risen, on 3. To recommend a viable plan on the basis average, by 1.5-2.0 mm/year in the last century of geo-environmental study of the coastal and since 1993, the rate has increased to 3 area. mm/year [4]. The latest IPCC Report [5] predicts 2 Patra; ACRI, 10(3): 1-12, 2017; Article no.ACRI.36601 Fig. 1. Location map of the study area 1.2 Database Department of Tourism-Govt. of West Bengal, Department of Environment-Govt. of West Data used for this study are – Bengal, Digha Development Authority, Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design, 1. Geological and Geomorphological Maps Ministry of Forestry and Environment, etc. and (1:50000) of GSOI (1995), Toposheet-73 recent research papers published in different O/6, 73 O/10, 73 O/14 (1931- ’32 & 1968- regional, national and international journals and ’69) of SOI and Google map from 1936- presented in different seminars, programmes, 2011 etc. are very essential and helping tools to 2. Local sea gauge data and cyclonic data. complete this study. Basic cartographic materials 3. Last 10 years (2007-2010) beach & dune like Geological and Geomorphological Maps erosion data of the study area. (1:50000) of GSOI (1995), Toposheet-73 O/6, 73 4. Field observation and socio economic O/10, 73 O/14 (1931- ’32 & 1968-’69) of SOI and data. Google map have been used. Besides these, different cartographic and GIS techniques have 2. METHODOLOGY been applied as necessary as. Through field data generation and literature survey the author Intensive visits to the study area, extensive has attributed that this coastal tract is affected literature survey and experimental documentary environmental hazards due to many natural and analysis are three key measures to prepare this anthropogenic causes – mainly increasing sea paper and for conducting this study. Reports of surface temperature, sea level rise, high wave Geological Survey of India, Survey of India (SOI), action, cyclone and unplanned construction etc. 3 Patra; ACRI, 10(3): 1-12, 2017; Article no.ACRI.36601 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION continues, the air temperature in this area is expected to rise by 1°C by 2050 [7]. The key physical parameters that need to be understood to identify coastal erosion as a 3.2 Surface Water Temperature problem in the coastal zone are: The surface water temperature in Kanthi coast Table 1. Observed the various physical (Northern and Southern sector) have shown parameters of the study area significant rising trends for both pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. The researcher study, the Parameters Observed time annual composite sea surface temperature of Air temperature 1965-2010 Bay of Bengal near Haldia during the period 2003-2009 varied from 28.023°C in the year Sea surface temperature 2003-2009 2004 to 29.381°C in the year 2009.