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General Session 1: Physical oceanic processes: Dynamics and physical-biological-biogeochemical interactions |
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Coastline changes in Sri Lanka
GS1-29-S
Lin Li, School of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University
Pgrni Pussella* , School of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University
Presenter Email: indikapussella@yahoo.com
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| The low elevated coast is threatened by the regular erosion and seasonal changes due to human and natural activities. This suggests that a proper monitoring system of the coast line for protection from human and natural intervention is essential for the management of this resource. The main objective of the study was to identify the changes of the coast line, assess the vulnerability. Further the study gives a prediction about the future coast lines using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fourth assessment report in 2007. These investigations were carried out to checking the feasibility of coastal line change detection using Remote Sensing data. It was used the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tools to predict the future coastlines. Further, ten physical variables, coastal slope, barrier type, rate of shoreline erosion, land use pattern, geomorphology, relative sea level change, beach type, dune height, mean tidal range and mean wave height, were used to assess the vulnerability. The scenario of these different variables along the coast line was categorized using experts views and existing model parameters. The relative influences of these variables were determined using the knowledge of the expertise and analyzed by using the pair-wise comparison analysis. The final weights were calculated through the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method. The final model to assess the vulnerability was prepared using the ArcGIS software and the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) was determined. The model resulted 1.6744 as the lowest CVI value, while 4.4497 as the highest CVI value throughout the study area. These CVI values were categorized as very low, low, moderate, high and very high vulnerable areas using the Natural Breaks (Jenks) tool. The results of the vulnerability assessment for the region show that, nearly, 60% of the coastal line is more vulnerable and 40% of the line is low vulnerable. The study identified that there is a strong relationship between the final CVI values and the variables such as barrier types, rate of shoreline erosion and accretion, land use pattern and geomorphology. The study recommends that the administration must take actions to reduce the coastal vulnerability in a proper manner. Further, it was identified the hot spots and the weaknesses of the present coastal barriers. |
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