IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, "Resource and Environmental Monitoring", Hyderabad, India, 2002
and its migrating dunes are seen in Tuticorin coast.
Thruvaikkulam and the other above-mentioned areas also
exhibit features similar to those in Tuticorin area.
In the coastal plains between south of Vaippar River and
Tuticorin near Maravanmadam seven patches of teri dunes have
been observed with a thick cover of vegetation. North of
Panaiyur, oval shaped teri dunes with sparse vegetation have
been observed. The areal extent of this dune has been
calculated to be 6.27 km?. Another two teri dunes have been
observed near Kumarapuram. They cover an area of 2.67 km?.
Near Pandiyapuram, rounded dune complex has been observed
with thick vegetation. The area of this dune has been estimated
as 4.27 km?. Near Milavittam small rounded patches of teri
dune complex covering an area of 2 km? has been observed.
Two other teri dune complexes have been observed near
Maravanmatam area with thick vegetation. They cover an area
of 3.08 km2. All teri dune complexes in this area are trending in
the northeast to southeast direction.
4.1.5 Biogenic Landform
Back swamp is very common biogenic landform along the
coast of Gulf of Mannar. It occur in marshy areas along the
coast; they particularly occur at the edge of the tropical or sub-
tropical seas, in bays lagoons and estuarine regions (Gerlech
1973). Small back swamp areas have been observed in the areas
near the mouth of Korampallam odai around Tuticorin coast
(Figure 9) and west of Rameswaram Island. They cover a total
area of 1.87 km? These swamps are covered by mangrove
vegetation.
pa. J
- d Te "5 =
Jaen us g à
sca 3 - a NR x
BE eni. an M
dr
Figure 9. Back swamp and mangrove vegetation in the mouth
of Korampallam odai near Tuticorin
5. CONCLUSION
Interpretation of IRS LISS-III imagery aids in demarcating
various coastal geomorphologic features like beach, spit, beach
ridges, swales, mudflat, back swamp, dune complex, teri sand,
natural levee, flood plain, deltaic plain, flood plain, strandline,
etc. All the coastal geomorphologic features, in particular, spit,
beach ridges, strandlines, swales and backwater system, back
swamp, mud flat etc. indicate that the Gulf of Mannar coast is
prograding towards seaward side. In addition, Geographical
Information System is found to be a useful tool for mapping
geomorphology and calculation of areal extent of various
geomorphologic features.
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