Coastal Geomorphology and Beach Erosion and Accretion in the Northern Kerala Coast

The coastal Zone of Kerala is characterised by typical broad strand plains and cliffed shoreline with or without a beach. A facsimile of such coastal settings have been identified between Mahe and Talapadi in northern Kerala. The strand plain consists of a series of sub parallel ridges formed by successive accretion of low narrow beach ridges parallel to the shoreline. The erosional and accretional behaviour of the beaches were monitored during a programme of field observation and survey during November 1980 to November 1981. In addition to the beach profiling at 64 survey locations, the breaker parameters and longshore currents were also monitored. It is estimated that 96.84m³/ linear meter of the beach has been eroded during the survey period.