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Coastal Environment of West Bengal - A Review


 

Coastal zone of West Bengal, characterized as a typical lowland coast under a meso-macrotidal regime, register evidence of accretion and erosion that control configuration of the coastline. At present, West Bengal coast is a hostile coastal tract in nature evidenced by severe erosion that leads to lowering of coastal plains and landward advancement of coastline as it is a cyclone prone area. The coastal zone of the state is the outcome of the combined depositional effects of Ganga-Brahmaputra River and the Bay of Bengal. Tidal fluctuations, wave parameters, longshore currents, sand flats, and beach ridges are the characteristic features of the coastal areas of the state. Major catastrophic events like cyclonic storms, tidal bores, storm surges, breaking types, high tidal range, strong littoral drift that control the coastal configuration of West Bengal are examined accordingly. Nature of beach materials and different sedimentary structures on the intertidal zones are identified. 

Keywords

Coastal divisions, Coastal sectors, Coastal processes, Wave parameters, Coastal waters, Beach characters, Bedforms, Sediment texture, Breaker types
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  • Das, G. K., Cyclonic Hazards in the Recent Past in Peninsular India, Reason- A Technical Journal, Vol XIX, pp. 1-15, 2020. DOI:10.21843/reas/2020/1 -15/209270

  • Das, G. K., Forest Covers of West Bengal: A District-wise Review, Reason- A Technical Journal, Vol XIX, pp. 26-63, 2020. DOI:10.21843/reas/2020/26-63/209272

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  • Das, G. K., Estuarine Morphodynamics of the Sunderbans, Springer, Switzerland, 211p.,2015.

  • Das, G. K., and Bhattacharya, A., Dynamic Geomorphic Environment of Indian Sunderbans, pp. 284-298, in Changing Environmental Scenario of the Indian Subcontinent, ed. S. R. Basu, ACB publication, 471 p., 2002.

  • Bhattacharyya, S., Rakshit, S., Roy Chaudhuri, S and Sengupta, R., Formation of Concretions and Compact Sediment - an Evidence of Holocene Sea Level still Stand, Geological Survey of India Report, Newsletter, Marine Wing, Vol. XVII, No. 1, pp. 18-19,2003.

  • Das, G. K., Tidal Sedimentation in the Sunderban's Thakuran Basin, Springer, Switzerland, 151 p., 2017.

  • Bhattacharya, A., Some Geomorphic Observations Indicating Shoreline Variation in the Coastal Tract of West Bengal (India) - A Case Study around Bakkhali in Sunderbans, Proc. Int. Quat. Seminar on INQUA Shoreline, Indian Ocean Sub-Commission, pp.32-37,2000.

  • Das, G. K., Environment Status of Bakkhali Beach, West Bengal, Geographical Review of India, Vol. 72, No.2, pp. 132-139,2010.

  • Mitra, P. K. and Samadder, A. K., Correlation of Wave Parameters with Beach Slope along Some Selected Coastal Tracts of West Bengal and Orissa, Geological Survey of India Report, Newsletter, Marine Wing, Vol.XVII, No.1, pp. 20-22,2003.

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  • Janssen, P., The Interaction of Ocean Waves and Wind, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK, 2004.

  • Das, G. K., Sedimentation Processes in the Thakuran River Basin, Sunderbans, India. In Bengal Basin, Ed. S. R. Basu, ACB Publication, Kolkata, 2004.

  • Das, G. K., Sediment Grain Size, pp. 555-558. In: Encyclopedia of Estuaries, M. J. Kennish (Ed.), Springer, 760p., 2016.

  • Das, G. K., Sediment Characteristics of Beach Sands of Digha and Talseri, Indian Science Cruiser, Vol. 22, No. 5, pp. 17-23, 2008.

  • Das, G. K., Beach Processes of Tidal Islands of Hugh Estuary, West Bengal, Geographical Review of India, Vol. 71, No. 3,pp.240-248,2009.

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  • Das, G. K., Sedimentary Structures, pp. 568-572. In: Encyclopedia of Estuaries. M. J. Kennish (Ed.), Springer, 760 p., 2016.

  • Das, G. K., Trash in the Sea Beach, Indian Science Cruiser, Vol. 23, No.2, pp.8-9, 2009.

  • Das, G. K., Forests and Forestry of West Bengal-Survey and Analysis, Springer, pp. 1-231, 2021. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030- 80706-1

  • Das, G. K., Multiple Correlation Analysis among Dominant Species of Coastal Vegetation at Bakkhali-Fraserganj, West Bengal, Indian Science Cruiser, Vol. 36, No.1, pp. 44-47.

  • Das, G. K., Coastal Zone Management of West Bengal- A Review, Indian Science Cruiser, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 28-38.


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  • Coastal Environment of West Bengal - A Review

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Abstract


Coastal zone of West Bengal, characterized as a typical lowland coast under a meso-macrotidal regime, register evidence of accretion and erosion that control configuration of the coastline. At present, West Bengal coast is a hostile coastal tract in nature evidenced by severe erosion that leads to lowering of coastal plains and landward advancement of coastline as it is a cyclone prone area. The coastal zone of the state is the outcome of the combined depositional effects of Ganga-Brahmaputra River and the Bay of Bengal. Tidal fluctuations, wave parameters, longshore currents, sand flats, and beach ridges are the characteristic features of the coastal areas of the state. Major catastrophic events like cyclonic storms, tidal bores, storm surges, breaking types, high tidal range, strong littoral drift that control the coastal configuration of West Bengal are examined accordingly. Nature of beach materials and different sedimentary structures on the intertidal zones are identified. 

Keywords


Coastal divisions, Coastal sectors, Coastal processes, Wave parameters, Coastal waters, Beach characters, Bedforms, Sediment texture, Breaker types

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.21843/reas%2F2022%2F1-18%2F222959