Coastal Vulnerability Mapping Using Geospatial Technologies in Cuddalore-Pichavaram Coastal Tract, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Eustatic sea level rise due to global warming is predicted to be about 42 to 98 cm by 2100 (IPCC 2013) which necessitates identification and protection of vulnerable sections of coasts. The current study area falling in the coastal zone of central Tamil Nadu from Cuddalore in the north and Pichavaram in the south along the southeast coast of India. The study aims in assessing the coastal vulnerability for the Cuddalore-Pichavaram coastal tract since the area is affected more due to 2004 Tsunami, 2008 Nisha and 2011 Thane cyclones using Remote Sensing and GIS tools. Six various terrain and physical parameters such as Geomorphology, Land use/Land cover, coastal slope, Offshore bathymetry, shoreline change (1970-2013), mean Tidal height has been considered to calculate the Coastal Vulnerability Index(CVI) based on USGS classification and they show significant variations all along the coastal tract. Based on the CVI values calculated for the study area the coast is classified as five classes of vulnerability viz., very low, low, moderate, high, very high. The present study can be used as tool for coastal disaster management for future development.