Coastal India System
Estuaries · Deltas · Mangroves · Cyclones
MICRO-REALM 01
Coastal Nexus
- HIGHLY DYNAMIC ECOTONE (TRANSITION ZONE)
- 7516.6 KM TOTAL COASTLINE (INC. ISLANDS)
- INTERFACE OF LITHOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE
MICRO-REALM 02
West Coast (Submergent)
- FORMED BY FAULTING AND SUBSIDENCE
- NARROW, STEEP, AND HIGHLY INDENTED
- EXCELLENT NATURAL HARBORS (MUMBAI, MARMAGAO)
- HIGH WAVE ENERGY COASTLINE
MICRO-REALM 03
East Coast (Emergent)
- FORMED BY UPLIFT AND RIVER DEPOSITION
- BROAD, FLAT, AND CONTINUOUS PLAINS
- POOR NATURAL HARBORS (REQUIRES DREDGING)
- DOMINATED BY LARGE RIVER DELTAS
MICRO-REALM 04
Estuaries
- SEMI-ENCLOSED COASTAL BODY OF BRACKISH WATER
- FORMED BY FAST, SHORT WEST-FLOWING RIVERS
- NARMADA & TAPI ESTUARIES (GULF OF KHAMBHAT)
- HIGH BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTIVITY
MICRO-REALM 05
Delta Formation
- SEDIMENT ACCUMULATION AT RIVER MOUTHS
- EAST COAST FEATURE (GENTLE SLOPES, LOW WAVE ENERGY)
- MAHANADI, GODAVARI, KRISHNA, CAUVERY
- HIGHLY FERTILE 'RICE BOWLS'
MICRO-REALM 06
Lagoons & Backwaters
- SHALLOW WATER SEPARATED FROM SEA BY SANDBARS
- CHILIKA (ODISHA) - LARGEST BRACKISH LAKE
- VEMBANAD (KERALA) - KAYALS/BACKWATERS
- PULICAT LAKE (AP/TAMIL NADU BORDER)
MICRO-REALM 07
Mangrove Ecosystems
- SALT-TOLERANT (HALOPHYTIC) COASTAL FORESTS
- SUNDARBANS (LARGEST), BHITARKANIKA, PICHAVARAM
- PNEUMATOPHORES (BREATHING ROOTS), VIVIPARY
- ACT AS BIO-SHIELDS AGAINST STORM SURGES
MICRO-REALM 08
Coral Reefs
- SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP (POLYP + ZOOXANTHELLAE)
- LAKSHADWEEP (ATOLLS), ANDAMAN (FRINGING)
- GULF OF MANNAR & GULF OF KACHCHH
- THREATENED BY BLEACHING & OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
MICRO-REALM 09
Coastal Erosion
- REMOVAL OF LAND BY WAVE ACTION & TIDES
- EXACERBATED BY SEA-LEVEL RISE (CLIMATE CHANGE)
- DAMS REDUCE SILT REPLENISHMENT TO COASTS
- SEVERE IN KERALA AND WEST BENGAL
MICRO-REALM 10
Cyclone Hazards
- TROPICAL STORMS DEVELOPING OVER WARM OCEANS
- BAY OF BENGAL HIGHLY PRONE (> ARABIAN SEA)
- ODISHA, AP, BENGAL SUFFER MAXIMUM IMPACT
- STORM SURGES CAUSE INLAND INUNDATION
MICRO-REALM 11
Economic Importance
- 12 MAJOR & >200 MINOR PORTS HANDLE 90% EXIM TRADE
- EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) FOR FISHING/MINERALS
- OFFSHORE OIL & GAS (MUMBAI HIGH, KG BASIN)
- COASTAL PLACER MINERALS (THORIUM IN KERALA)
MICRO-REALM 12
Anthropogenic Pressure
- COASTAL REGULATION ZONE (CRZ) VIOLATIONS
- SAND MINING DESTROYS BEACH STABILITY
- INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS & UNTREATED SEWAGE
- MANGROVE CLEARANCE FOR AQUACULTURE/REAL ESTATE