Recent Morphological Changes along the Krishna Delta Shoreline

Geomorphic expression of the variety of landform units exposed in the Krishna Delta is a manifestation of complex interplay of riverine and marine processes in space and time. The dominance of fluvial processes is largely responsible for the progradation of the delta. This is evidenced by the presence of a series of Palaeo-Delta lobes and strand plains across the deltaic plain. Systematic study of geomorphic maps, aerlal photographs, toposheets spanning a period of right decades and satelite images (IRS-1D) indicates operation of highly dynamic nature of coastal processes Superimposition of data sets of different periods, clearly exhibits remarkable changes in the configuration of the lower deltaic plan. It is observed that towards the eastern margin and in close proximity to the easternmost distributary a substantial part of about 15 km has been eroded away. At the same time the western part of the lower deltaic plain shows accretion. There is an enlargement and further westward growth of the spit. The width of the spit which was approximately 120 m during the 1920s had grown to 620m in the 1970s and in the year 2001 its width is around l km. Another spit with bars enclosing a lagoon, which is a new development, was observed. Impact and possible causes of the changes in the deltaic region on environment are also discussed. The attempt here is to highlight only the morphological changes along the delta coast.