IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development| Vol. 4, Issue 07, 2016 | ISSN (online): 2321-0613 All rights reserved by www.ijsrd.com 408 Shoreline Change Study along the Coast of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, South India Nithu Raj 1 B. Gurugnanam 2 1,2 Centre for Applied Geology, Gandhigram Rural institute - Deemed University, India Abstract— In the present study, an attempt has been made to map shoreline changes of Cuddalore coast, Tamil Nadu, South India using remote sensing and GIS. The shoreline is rapidly changing land forms in the coastal area. In coastal GIS and its deliver the more evidence’s about on coastal land form dynamics. Therefore, accurate detection and continuous monitoring is very important to realize the coastal processes and dynamics of various coastal features. This study is to investigate the shoreline change along the coast of Cuddalore Tamil Nadu, South India, using ArcGIS and IRS and LANDSAT data. (2000 – 2012) are used to extract the shoreline and the data are handled by using the ERADAS IMAGE software and examined by ArcGIS 9.3 workstation. The study area reveals particular areas have been undergone erosion and accretion. Lesser changes could be noticed along the northern and southern part of the coast. Some necessary measures have been taken by the government for the coastal zone management. The ecological importance of the mangroves, afforestation of mangroves should be increased in the study area to reduce the wave height considerably during extreme events, such as major storms and tsunami and protect the coast from erosion. The coastal area erosion and deposition have been increased in some areas along the coast. The study proves that, geospatial science has got immersive applications of changes like this. Key words: Shoreline Change, Erosion, Accretion I. INTRODUCTION Coastal zone is a unique environment, this area of interaction between land and sea and thus both terrestrial and marine environments influenced this zone. Coastal zones are most fragile, dynamic and productive ecosystem and are relatively often under pressure from both anthropogenic activities and normal processes, and it supports a large amount of floral and faunal biodiversity. Boundaries of coastal zones are defined in different ways depending on the focus of interest and availability of data. Coastal zone of India have to include 26% of the total population. More people are unprotected to natural costal vulnerabilities such as storm surges, tsunamis, and shoreline erosion. The individual hazards such as storms, cyclone’s tsunamis, sea level change and shoreline variation have been carried out by several researchers they are studied in the north Indian ocean, Arabian sea and the bay of Bengal Indu Jain, et al. (2006), Unnikrishnan and Sankar (2007), Kumar, et al.(2008). Shoreline is defined as the line of intersection between the land and water body. The shoreline was unique features of the earth surface. Space and technologies have the capability to provide information over a large area on a repetitive source and therefore very useful in recognizing and monitoring numerous coastal features. Today these technologies are indispensable when emerging appropriate action plans for development in any coastal area. After the great Indian Ocean tsunami (26 december-2004) along the coastal area was effected different morphological changes and variations in sea level were continuously observed. These are induced sudden erosions dissimilar to seasonal variations in the south-eastern part of India. It is one of the twenty seven features recognized by the international geographic data committee and a quickly changing land form in the coastal area. It delivers a more detailed picture of shore line change through time and how adjacent shore forms evolve in concern with the related coastal land forms. Ramesh, R. et al. (2010). They are the key factors in coastal GIS and offer more information on coastal land form dynamics. Hence accurate detection and frequent monitoring of shoreline are very essential to understand the coastal processes and dynamic of various coastal features. As a pilot studies a composite hazards line map along with current shoreline changes has been prepared for a short coastal region of the Cuddalore district based on its morphological changes and erosion changes. II. STUDY AREA Fig. 1: Location map of the study area The area Cuddalore port was under the control of different countries before the independence of India. This is the large developed town within the state of Tamil Nadu south India, which has experienced rapid rates of coastal expansion. The coastal stretch of Cuddalore covers from Gadilam estuary to the north to Pitchavaram mangroves in the south entire length of the study area 42 km along the Bay of Bengal and west by Panruti and Virthachalam Taluk of Cuddalore district. It lies between 11˚23’57” and 11˚48’03”N latitudes, and 79˚38’11” and 79˚01’ 08” E longitudes (Fig.1) covering the area the Gadilam River flows through the town and splits the Cuddalore old town from the new one. River Uppnar is one of rivers passing through the industrial coastal town of Cuddalore in south east the coast of India along with River Gadilam in the north which drains into the Bay of Bengal. This region found in a lot of surface - water bodies in the western side of the study area connected to the river, and a large thermal power plant sewage find its way into the river through this water body many large and small - scale industries being established along the Uppnar River bunk. The coastal zone of Cuddalore includes production of fertilizers, dyes, chemicals and mineral processing plants, and metal – based industries and another key place are