Improved geospatial analysis of shoreline modification using a weighted‐average‐based novel formulation

Abstract

AbstractThis study presents a novel weighted‐average method (WAM) that captures the detailed nuances of shoreline change patterns over long and short periods by considering shorelines belonging to five different time frames. Using the WAM, the average shoreline modification for the longer period (136 years with intervals of ~34 years) and for the shorter period (annual changes over a period of 5 years) have been calculated for the 9 km stretch of the Kollam coast in Kerala, India. Historically, Kollam has been a prominent seaport on the Malabar Coast of India and was extensively mapped due to its importance for political, strategic, and trade reasons. The coastal information available in these older maps is unique as there are no comparable data for the coastline of that period that can be used to assess changes along the coast. The WAM demonstrated the efficacy of the historical maps as pivotal reference points. It reliably captured the different shoreline activities (i.e., growing, stable, and receding regions) of natural and anthropogenic origins within the study area, and the findings are consistent with results obtained by using the linear regression rate (LRR) and the end point rate (EPR) methods. This work presents both qualitative and quantitative analyses to evaluate shoreline change using various statistical and mathematical methods. The findings should serve as baseline information for coastal management, notably mitigating coastal hazards—whether of natural or anthropogenic origin—which could result in the enhancement of ecosystem services for coastal communities.