| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-1.1-0213 |
| Title of Abstract | The Role of Fringing Coral Reefs in Shoreline Erosion and Accretion: A Remote Sensing Study of Lakshadweep |
| Authors | Nithya Jeevanand*, P C Mohanty, Karthi J, Sudheer Joseph, T. M. Balakrishanan Nair |
| Organisation | INCOIS |
| Address | C2, INCOIS Quarters, Ocean Valley, Pragathi Nagar Hyderabad, Telangana, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: n.jeevanand-p@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Coastal ecosystems worldwide have experienced intensified human interaction, driven by shifting infrastructure and ecosystem stresses, with reef-related processes being a primary cause of morphodynamic alteration in island systems. In this study, we examine intra-annual shoreline variation on selected Lakshadweep islands in India to understand the localised coral reef-initiated effects on coastal stability. The research utilises multi-temporal satellite data to analyse seasonal changes over the coral-lined shores from 1991 to 2025. Shorelines were delineated using the semi-automated Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Modified NDWI (MNDWI), which were then enhanced through Otsu thresholding and image segmentation processing. Tidal corrections maintained positional precision and reduced errors by utilising datasets sourced from the Archiving, Validation, and Interpretation of Satellite Oceanographic data (AVISO), thereby completely delineating shoreline lines for analysis. Shoreline change analysis employed measures from the Linear Regression Rate (LRR) to determine temporal trends. This enables the inter-annual evaluation to capture the dynamic, seasonally dependent, and reef-mediated reactions to variations in wave climate, thereby transcending static assessment. This research provides a comprehensive characterisation of the function of coral reef systems in Lakshadweep in relation to coastal processes. It also encompasses knowledge of key components in sustainable coastal zone management and reef protection, as well as adaptation procedures to climate change and spatial planning in island development. It may even be suggested that the findings from this study contribute to understanding the processes of erosion, accretion, and coral decline in the Lakshadweep atoll. Remote sensing, in conjunction with reasonably appropriate tidally corrected periodicity of observations, would provide reliable and valuable data, increasing the accuracy and quality of data for long-term monitoring of reef and coastal systems, including informing the decision-making of coastal managers. |
| Keywords | MNDWI, NDWI, Tidal Correction, Shoreline Change Rate |