Shoreline changes along the Kutubdia Island, south east Bangladesh using digital shoreline analysis system

Abstract

A ~65 km coastal stretch has been analyzed to estimate the change dynamics of Kutubdia Island with the help of digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS). This study investigated the reliability of medium resolution satellite imagery for mapping shoreline positions and for estimating historic rates of changes. Nine shoreline positions were extracted on 1972, 1976, 1980, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 and 2014 covering a long term of 42 years period. Rates of shoreline changes were estimated by four statistical methods namely, end point rate (EPR), linear regression rate (LRR), weighted linear regression (WLR) and least median of squares (LMS) by using DSAS and subsequently all the methods were verified with the correlation coefficient (R).The scrutiny of shoreline changes shows that the erosion during the last 42 years has affected the island, with some exception, at the north and west segment where minor accretion has been documented. The average rates of changes estimated for north, south, east and west segment using WLR, LMS, EPR and LRR are Ñ4.0 m/yr, Ñ33.7 m/yr Ñ2.6 m/yr and Ñ5.6 m/yr, respectively. The outcome of this particular analysis might be useful for proper planning and management of Kutubida Island. However, this may also be used in statistical modeling for forecasting the future shoreline position.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 27(1): 99-108, June-2014