Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment

India has a vast coastline of 7516.6 km, touches nine states and four union territories, posing unique challenges in identifying vulnerabilities to its coastal settlements and communities.

Abstract: Dense population along the Indian coast impacts the coral ecosystems making them susceptible to natural and man-made hazards. This work assesses the physical vulnerability and socio-economic risks due to oceanogenic disasters at the regional as well as micro level. The study also encompasses the impact of sea surface temperature (SST) on coral ecosystems that leads to coral bleaching. The assessment of remote sensing data combined with geographical information system (GIS) technology provides meaningful information on coastal vulnerability and risk associated with oceanogenic disasters along the Indian coast holding immense relevance for disaster management.

The authors are Scientist E, in-charge of CGAM Team; Project Scientists B; and, Head of Tsunami and Storm Surge Early Warning Services Group, respectively, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, respectively. mahendra@incois.gov.in. The article should be cited as Mahendra R.S., P.C. Mohanty, H. Shiva Kumar and E. Pattabhi Rama Rao. 2020. Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Geography and You, 20(6-7): 54-61