Impact of very severe cyclonic storm Phailin on shoreline change along South Odisha Coast

Abstract

The present study makes a qualitative and quantitative assessment of inundation limit, the structural damage and shoreline change due to very severe cyclonic storm Phailin and also estimates the rate of recovery along different parts of south Odisha coast. At the time of landfall of Phailin along Odisha and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coast on October 12, 2013, maximum sustained surface wind speed reached up to 200–210 kmph gusting to 220 kmph with an estimated pressure drop 66 mbar at the center. Significant wave heights reached up to more than 7 m with a mean period range between 4 and 12 s from southeast direction during the event. Strong gale wind and high wave followed by massive rainfall brought irreparable damage to the coastal structures and shoreline along south Odisha. Real-time kinematics global positioning system and differential global positioning system Arcpad were used to monitor the shoreline change before and after Phailin and the inundation limit. The study indicates maximum inundation at southernmost part of Odisha coast (Ramayapatnam) followed by inside the Gopalpur Port area and minimum near Gopalpur port north. Shoreline change from pre- (September 2013) to post-storm period (October 2013) is landward all along south Odisha coast with maximum (48.7 m) near Rushikulya turtle nesting beach and minimum (12.6 m) near south of Gopalpur tourist beach. The recovery of the beach and dune areas assessed during October 2014 (after 1 year from the post-storm observation) is uneven. Percentage of recovery is maximum at south side of Gopalpur port, while recovery is minimum on north of the port.