Study of the pulicat lagoon on the basis of deprived vegetation and water area against increased land surface temperature

Abstract

Abstract The Pulicat located on the east coast is one of the 17 coastal lagoons of India. It is the second largest brackish water lagoon of India. The lagoon is rich in biodiversity and support nearly 50000 population for their livelihood. The lagoon faces acute threats by natural and anthropogenic activities in the recent years. The present study is attempted to quantify the influence of these natural and anthropogenic activities on the lagoon environment. The study is carried out for a period of 21 years from 2000 to 2021. Land use/cover (LULC), Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Modified Water Index (NDMWI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) are some of the key parameters determined and assessed in the study to indicate the level of degradation of the lagoon using directional mapping. Prediction of LULC features of the lagoon for the next decade is attempted to understand the future status of the lagoon based on the past and present scenarios. The outcome of the study is found as evidence of the various stress factors threatening the sustainability of the lagoon. Assessment of the vulnerability and adaptation capability of the lagoon environment indicated that the lagoon is inclined more towards vulnerability than adaptation scenario. The study is attempted with the aid of Remote Sensing, GIS and modeling tools.