APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING FOR MONITORING THE TEMPORAL ARIATIONS IN THE KAKINADA SPIT AND BAY, EAST COAST OF INDIA

D. RAJASEKHAR REDDY*, R. SUDARSHANAJ** AND D. MITRA**
*Department of Geo, Andhre University, Visakhapatnam - WO 003, India
**Indian lnsmtde of Remote Sensing, Marine Science Division, 4, Kalidas Road,
P.B. 135, Dehradun248 001, India

The long narrow Kakinada Spit, enclosing a body of large seawater known as Kakinada Bay, is the most conspicuous feature along the Godavari Delta coast It has length of 30 krn. from its base at the mouth of Gautami River up to its free end towards north. The present studies indicate that the spit is undergoing progressive erosion at the southern end. In 1993 the spit shows erosion at one place and initiation of the connection between the Kakinada Bay and Bay of Bengal. By 1997 the erosion has intensified and the southern portion is completely cut off at three places. The Image enhancement studies indicate that the spit is likely to break in near future at two more places further north.

The bottom topography of the Kakinada Bay has been modified by the growth of the sandspit. The present study brings out the changes that have taken place in the bottom topography particularity in the area of. spit erosion ie., towards the SE corner of the Bay during 1993 and1997. These changes suggest that the circulation pattern in the bay is likely to change in the near future consequent to the spit erosion.

Kakinada is a fast growing port town in Andhra Pradesh. In order to develop the port and to maintain a safe navigation channel depth, the port authorities resorted to dig a sediment trap near the head of the spit to arrest the growth of the spit. The erosion of the spit towards the south and the removal of the sediment at the head of the spit will lead to the destruction of the spit in near future. This will have a disastrous consequences on the safety of the harbour and town as they will be directly exposed to the perilous waves and currents of the sea. It can lead to the destruction of mangroves and can pose ecological problems. This calls for the immediate measures to arrest the erosion of the spit and for regular monitoring of the changes in the Spit and the Bay.

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