Topographic changes of the beach at Valiathura, Kerala

Abstract

Studies on the topography of the beach and the inshore reaches at Valiathura, near Trivandrum reveal that the beach is in a stable equilibrium and present well defined cyclicity in accretion and erosion every year. During 1 year, the beach experiences a phase of major erosion closely associated with the monoonal wind and wave climates and a secondary phase of minor erosion under the impact of northeast monsoon. The sediments eroded during the period of primary erosion move considerably offshore resulting in shallowing up to the inshore reaches while they are subjected to alongshore flows during the period of minor erosion. The nature of the preveiling environmental factors and the physical processes that lead to these topographic changes have been discussed.