Assessing Coastal Vulnerability Index using the geospatial technique for the coast of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study is to develop a spatial coastal vulnerability index (CVI) map for the Tamil Nadu (TN) coast of India. TN has a diversity of coastal and marine environments, which are ecologically fragile zones. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of severe coastal hazards, such as those brought on by rising sea levels, cyclones, storm surges, tsunamis, erosion, and accretion, which will have a severe impact on the local environmental and socioeconomic conditions. This research employed expert knowledge as well as weights and scores from the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to create vulnerability maps includes the integration of various parameters such as geomorphology, Land use and Land Cover (LULC), Significant Wave Height (SWH), Sea Level Rise (SLR), Shoreline Change (SLC), Bathymetry, Elevation and coastal inundation. Based on the results very low 17.26%, low 30.77%, Moderate 23.46%, high 18.20% and very high 10.28%. The several locations tend to be high and very high due to coastal structures and land-use patterns, but few are high because of geomorphological features. This study establishes a framework for decision-makers to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in coastal zones.