See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/288496856

Shoreline management plan for Muthalapozhi harbour and adjoining coast

Article  in  International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering · February 2014

CITATIONS READS
5 1,175

3 authors, including:

V. Noujas Badarees Ko
National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai India Centre for Earth Science Studies
22 PUBLICATIONS   159 CITATIONS    5 PUBLICATIONS   44 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

MUDBANKS OF KERALA View project

All content following this page was uploaded by V. Noujas on 19 August 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Indexed in
Scopus Compendex and Geobase Elsevier, Chemical
Abstract Services-USA, Geo-Ref Information Services-USA,
List B of Scientific Journals, Poland,
Directory of Research Journals
www.cafetinnova.org April 2014, P.P.394-399
ISSN 0974-5904, Volume 07, No. 02

Shoreline Management Plan for Muthalapozhi Harbour and

Adjoining Coast
V.NOUJAS1, K.O.B ADAREES 2 AND K.V.THOMAS 3
1
CESS, Trivandrum, India
2
NCSCM, CHENNAI, INDIA
3
MSD, CESS, Trivandrum, India
Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Shoreline on either side of Muthalapozhi tidal inlet, along the southwest coast of India, got modified
following the construction of breakwaters for a fishing harbor. Severe erosion is observed immediately north of the
breakwaters and the harbour mouth gets choked due to spit formation at the mouth. Assessment of longshore
transport is done using LITDRIFT module of LITPACK. Shoreline change is modeled using LITLINE module.
Profile change is modeled using LITPROF module. Model results were compared and calibrated with field
measurements. Northerly transport of sediment towards the harbour mouth during beach building period following
the southwest monsoon erosion gets blocked by the breakwaters. The resultant deficiency of sediment availability in
northern side of the breakwater has to be compensated for controlling the severe erosion there. An artificial sand
dune immediately north of the breakwater where the beach is open without seawalls for about 100 m, is
recommended as a sediment store/ buffer. The excess sediment available in the southern sector and the dredged
sediment from inlet mouth could be used for the purpose. Model studies have indicated that a combination of groins
and transitional groins having maximum length of 30 m would help to develop beach during fair season and will be
the best among different options to control erosion north of the breakwater
Keywords: Litdrift, Litpack, Transitional Groins, Breakwater.

1. Introduction: and choking of the mouth has been addressed in an

earlier study (Noujas et al., 2013).
The breakwaters constructed for the fishing harbour at
Muthalapozhi tidal inlet along the southwest coast of 2. Methods:
India in Thiruvananthapuram (Fig. 1), has triggered
Coastal processes such as shoreline changes, nearshore
significant changes in its morphology. The coast is part
waves, longshore currents and sediment characteristics
of the NW trending coastal stretch between Veli inlet
are studied during 2008-2013 to understand various
and Varkala cliff. The fishing harbour work was
morphological changes including coastal erosion along
initiated in 2002. Model studies for the design estimated
Muthalapozhi coast.
a net southerly annual sediment transport and
accordingly the breakwaters were proposed with the The different modules of LITPACK software package
north arm having a length of 480 m and 170 m for the (DHI, 2005) was used for modelling shoreline changes.
south arm (IIT, 1998). As construction work progressed, Sediment drift along the coast has been computed with
the coast north of the breakwater was severely affected LITDRIFT module. The major input for the model is
by erosion (Sheik Pareeth P.I., 2004) due to blocking of bathymetry, which is given as cross-shore profile. The
natural sediment transport by the breakwater. It was also recorded wave data for one year (Baba et al., 1984) has
observed that the harbour mouth gets chocked with a been used to get the average monthly wave data for
spit formation making the harbour unusable (Fig. 2). model study. In addition to these inputs, sediment grain
Design modifications are planned for rectifying the size is also given as an input for LITDRIFT. The
problems (HED, 2011). LITPROF, the cross-shore profile variation model of
LITPACK, is used for the simulation of profile change
The sediment transport pattern is reviewed and
during storm event.
modelled in this study to understand the problem of
erosion and to suggest appropriate interventions for
management of the eroding sector. The harbour siltation

#SPL02070201 Copyright ©2014 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.

 395 V.NOUJAS, K.O.B ADAREES AND K.V.T HOMAS

The available wave data off Thiruvananthapuram at a

depth of 5.5m has been used for sediment drift
estimation and shoreline evolution modeling (Table. 1).
3.2. Initial Coastline, Cross-Shore Profile and
Sediment Characteristics:
Another input for shoreline evolution model LITLINE
is the initial coastline; it is given as a distance from an
arbitrary baseline. A grid spacing of 100 m is
considered for an accurate representation of the
shoreline. Baseline is drawn at an angle of 2270 N which
is close to general shoreline orientation along the coast.
For simulating good field conditions, six cross-shore
profiles representing the entire study region have been
used. Cross-shore profile values are given at 5 m cross-
shore interval.
In addition to the above inputs, sediment characteristics
along the cross-shore profiles are also given as input.
Sediment consists of fine to medium sand with mean
grain size varying from 0.11 to 0.39 mm. Sediment
Figure1: Study Area parameters used in the model are fall velocity, bed
roughness, specific gravity and geometrical spreading.
Table1: Wave data used for modeling
Mean
Duration
Hrms Wave Tz
Month (% of
(m) Direction ( s)
year)
(0N)
January 8.33 0.74 200 10.60
February 8.33 0.86 200 10.00
March 8.33 0.81 200 9.90
April 8.33 0.92 199 10.30
May 8.33 1.92 237 8.20
June 8.33 2.45 248 8.80
July 8.33 1.53 254 7.10
Figure2: Spit formations inside Muthalapozhi harbour
August 8.33 2.1 228 8.90
LITLINE module was used for shoreline evolution September 8.33 2.03 214 8.40
computations. The major inputs are waves, initial
coastline, cross shore profile and sediment transport October 8.33 1.81 200 10.4
table. Initial coastline is given as a distance from November 8.33 1.28 202 9.10
baseline. The sediment transport table (LINTABLE) is a December 8.33 1.11 200 11.10
substitute for LITDRIFT in LITLINE. The shoreline
evolution model is initially run for one year for 9 km 4. Results:
coastline on either side of Muthalapozhi breakwater. Siltation of the harbour has been studied taking the
The model is again run for further two more years and sector south of harbour breakwater as a separate
validated with field observations. Validated model is sediment cell and proposed 3 transitional groins south of
used to suggest suitable management plans to address the breakwater to manage the excess sediment transport
the problem of erosion north of breakwater, to the harbour (Noujas et al. 2013).
appropriately introducing different options in the mode.
4.1. Shoreline Evolution:
3. Data Used in the Numerical Model:
Shoreline evolution is initially simulated along the
3.1. Wave: entire study sector consisting of the coast on either side
of Muthalapozhi inlet. Initial coastline is given as the

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 07, No. 02, April, 2014, pp. 394-399
 Shoreline Management Plan for Muthalapozhi Harbour and Adjoining Coast
396

coastline position during September 2008. The

simulated results are given in Figure 3 & 4.

Figure5: Shoreline evolution along entire study region

(2008-2011)
Figure3: Computed shoreline evolution along entire
study region (one year)
Considering the stretch closer to the breakwater, it is
seen that major changes occur for about 2km on either
side. Beach building/ accretion occur on the southern
side of the breakwater and erosion occurs north of
breakwater (Fig. 4).

Figur6: Shoreline evolution for the sector closer to

breakwater (2008-2011)
Accretion continues south of breakwater. The shoreline
in April (month of maximum accretion) of different
years also shows that shoreline reaches the tip of the
south breakwater every year, indicating sediment
bypassing into the inlet. The monsoon erosion is
Figure4: Computed shoreline evolution for the sector maximum in the month of July (2009, 10 & 11).
closer to breakwater (one year) Following the monsoon erosion beach again starts to
accrete during beach building season (September
Shoreline progradation indicates that the shoreline onwards) and attains maximum width in April.
reaches upto the tip of the south breakwater which then
bypasses the breakwater into the harbour mouth. Model studies clearly indicate that shoreline evolution is
Monsoon erosion is observed on the southern side distinctly different for the regions south and north of
during May to August and the maximum erosion occurs breakwater. Accretion and siltation of the harbour are
in the month of July. At the same time accretion occurs the characteristics to the southern sector while severe
north of the breakwater upto a length of 400m erosion is characteristic to northern sector. Field
alongshore. The model was calibrated in one of the observations also substantiate this. Hence the northern
earlier studies with the observed data for southern sector sector is taken separately for modeling studies to
(Noujas, et al 2013). address the erosion problem. The shoreline evolution of
southern sector has already been studied by Noujas et al
The calibrated model was run for three years to (2013). It may be noted that seasonal erosion was the
understand the shoreline changes over a longer period. major problem along the densely populated north sector
It is plotted for 2 representative months: April for fair till the breakwater construction. Short groins which
season and July for rough season (Fig 5 & 6). were constructed as an additional protection to an

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 07, No. 02, April, 2014, pp. 394-399
 397 V.NOUJAS, K.O.B ADAREES AND K.V.T HOMAS

artificial canal passing very close to the shoreline have

been in existence for the last 80 years.
4.2. Shoreline Modeling for North Sector:
The model is run separately for north sector in the
present study. Littoral transport is calculated using
LITDRIFT module (Table. 2). It is seen that net
transport is northerly and the computed sediment drift is
64000 m3/year. Southerly transport is observed during
May to July. The maximum northerly transport is in
October.
Field observations show that the sediment brought by
the net northerly transport, as seen from the sediment
drift computations, resulted in an accreting beach south
of Varkala cliff promontory (Fig. 7). It is seen that the
present shoreline is further seaward of old seawalls
which is also indicative of accretion.
Simulated results of shoreline evolution for north sector
during fair season (Nov-April) are shown in Figure 8.
Shoreline evolution closer to breakwater is given in
Figure 9. The model is run with no sea wall along the
northern sector.
Table2: Sediment drift computed using LITDRIFT Figure7: Accreting shoreline seaward of old seawall
Sediment south of Varkala cliff promontory
Accumulated or
Month transport
Net transport (m3)
(m3/month)
January 9533.67 9533.67
February 9971.11 19504.8
March 8957.33 28462.1
April 11960.3 40422.4
May -24955.7 15466.7
June -107324 -91857.6
July -33775.3 -125633
August 14709.9 -110923
September 58764.5 -52158.6
October 73856.5 21697.9
November 25444 47141.9 Figure8: Shoreline evolution along the entire northern
December 17242.7 64384.6
sector (Nov-April)
From the simulated results it is seen that there is no
erosion upto 250m north of breakwater. Further north
severe erosion occurs up to 1km. Maximum erosion is
seen in April. Beach is almost stable further north of
eroding sector. The model result is comparable with
field observation (Fig. 10)

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 07, No. 02, April, 2014, pp. 394-399
 Shoreline Management Plan for Muthalapozhi Harbour and Adjoining Coast
398

Figure11: Shoreline evolution along entire study sector

Figure9: Shoreline evolution for a sector closer to
with groin fields in position (Nov-April)
breakwater (Nov- April)
Different options were tried for controlling the severe
erosion and the best suited option is presented in Figure
11 and 12. It consists of a groin field of 10 groins along
the seawall sector and a transitional groin field of 3
groins. Groin field along seawall sector has a length of
30 m separated by a distance of 250 m. The transitional
groins have lengths of 30, 15 and 10m. The distances
between transitional groins have been chosen as three
times the length of the groin (Sundar and Sannasiraj,
2006). A beach having 20 to 30 m width is generated
during fair season between the groins. It is seen both
from field observations and LITPROF computations
that a seasonal beach of 20 to 30 m normally gets Figure12: Shoreline evolution along a sector closer to
eroded along this coast during monsoon season (Fig. 13) breakwater with groin fields in position (Nov- April)
5
4
3
2
Elevation

1
0
-1 0 50 100 150 200

-2
-3
-4
-5 Distance

Initial Simulated Observed

Figure13: Storm event erosion and Calibration using

LITPROF
5. Discussion:
Model studies and field observations clearly indicate
that shoreline evolution is distinctly different for the
regions south and north of breakwater. Accretion and
siltation of the harbour are characteristics to the
southern sector while severe erosion is characteristic to
northern sector. Erosion is confined to 2.5 km towards
north of the breakwater and further north it is
Figure10: Shoreline change from field observations
stable/accreting up to Varkala cliff promontory. A
close to breakwater

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 07, No. 02, April, 2014, pp. 394-399
 399 V.NOUJAS, K.O.B ADAREES AND K.V.T HOMAS

combination of seawalls and groin fields is found to be valuable suggestion, which helped to improve the
effective in controlling erosion. It helps to develop a 20 contents of the paper.
to 30 m wide beach seaward of seawalls during fair
8. Reference:
season which is equal to the width of seasonal beach
along this coast. Model results show end erosion of [1] Baba, M., Shahul Hameed, T.S., Kurian, N.P.,
about 30-40 m on the down drift side of the northern Thomas, K.V., Harish, C.M., M., R. and
most groin for an alongshore length of 300 m. This has Mohahanan S., 1984. Long-term wave and beach
to be controlled with temporary stacking of sand filled data of kerala coast Centre for Earth Science
bags. It is also expected that the reversal of currents in Studies Thiruvananthapuram, India.
the form of cell circulation observed during the initial [2] DHI, 2005. User manual and reference guide for
stages of beach building period (August-September) litpack and mike21, Danish Hydraulic Institute,
could compensate the sediment deficiency at the end Netherland.
erosion sectors (Thomas and Baba, 1986). [3] HED, 2011. Muthalapozhi fishing harbour
comprehensive report. In: G.o. Kerala (Editor),
It is estimated that about 1.8 lakh m3 of sediment is
Thiruvananthapuram.
dredged from the harbor for maintaining the channel
[4] IIT, 1998. Fishery harbour at muthalapozhi, project
depth (HED, 2011). Deficiency of sediment availability
report. In: H.e.D.o. Fisheries (Editor). Govertment
in the northern sector could be addressed by bypassing
of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.
the excess sediment getting deposited in the southern
[5] Noujas, V., Thomas, K.V., Sheela Nair, L.,
sector and from dredged material from the harbor. This
Hameed, T.S.S., K.O., K.O.B. and Ajeesh, N.R.,
could be used to develop artificial dunes in the 250 m
2013. Management of shoreline morphological
open coast immediately north of the breakwater. These
changes consequent to breakwater construction (in
artificial dunes could enhance sediment availability in
press)
the northern sector through monsoonal erosion. The
[6] Sheik Pareeth P.I., 2004. Coastal problem during
dunes have to be periodically nourished to compensate
the construction of training walls for muthalapozhy
the loss of sediments.
harbour in kerala. Paper presented at the workshop
6. Conclusions: on Coastal Protection Measures, Chennai, p.^pp.
[7] Sundar, V. and Sannasiraj, S.A., 2006. Shore
The densely populated coastal sector north of
protection works for the coast of panathura-
Muthalapozhi breakwater got destabilized with the
numerical model studies, Department of ocean
construction of breakwaters for Muthalapozhi fishing
Engineering, IIT Madras.
harbor. The part of the coast immediately south of
[8] Thomas, K.V. and Baba, M., 1986. Berm
Varkala cliff promontory remained stable while the
development on a monsoon-influenced microtidal
seawalls constructed north of breakwater were getting
beach. Sedimentology, 33(4): 537-546.
damaged during monsoon season causing severe losses
to the coastal communities. The proposed intervention
of short groin fields and artificial dunes is expected to
provide beaches within groin cells along the eroding
sector. No intervention is proposed for the stable north
part.
7. Acknowledgements:
The authors are thankful to Dr. N.P. Kurian, Director,
and Centre for Earth Science Studies,
Thiruvananthapuram and Dr. B. R. Subramanian,
Project Director, Integrated Coastal and Marine Area
Management (ICMAM PD), Chennai, for their
encouragement and support. Authors are very grateful to
Dr. R.S Kankara (Scientist F, ICMAM PD) for his

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 07, No. 02, April, 2014, pp. 394-399

View publication stats