Shoreline dynamics and littoral transport around the tidal inlet at Pulicat, southeast coast of India

• Tidal inlet dynamics using Satellite data coupled with GIS.
• Between 1978 and 2003, the shoreline near Pulicat is eroding at a rate of 20.34 m/yr.
• Fresh water input to the tidal inlet plays a crucial role in opening the tidal inlet to flush the excess water into the sea.

Pulicat is India׳s second largest brackish water lagoon with its mouth opening in the Bay of Bengal. The dynamics of the tidal inlet at Pulicat has been reported in this study on the basis of long term analysis using satellite remote sensing aided with Geographical Information System (GIS) and berm crest data. In addition, the short term analysis was carried out using monthly in situ Global Positioning System (GPS) profiling and sediment grain size analysis. The study of the shoreline dynamics along the inlet using the Linear Imaging Self – Scanning Sensor (LISS) – III along with the Survey of India toposheet of 1954 reveals that the inlet once with a single mouth is divided into two, over the period of time with the southern mouth migrating towards north with an inconsistent migration pattern of the northern mouth. The overall extent of migration is found to be within 3 km. The outcome of the 25 year berm crest data starting from 1978 revealed the coastline around Pulicat is eroding upto 1990 and thereafter it is accreting with the net shoreline erosion rate of 20.34 m/yr. The monthly in situ beach profiling studies from August 2004 to July 2005 revealed that the Pulicat inlet follows a variable migratory pattern with a shift of upto 914 m North during August to December with a reversal migration of 600 m thus leading to a net migration towards the north. The grain size analysis has unravelled the sediment transport around Pulicat inlet. The study of the inlet using satellite imagery during monsoon has clearly justified the dominant fresh water inflow regulatory force over the tidal forces and the positive influence of the Tsunami on opening the inlet during monsoon failure.