Geospatial Assessment of shoreline changes and Impacts of Seawater Intrusion on Groundwater Quality of Coastal Aquifers of the Kannur Coast, Kerala

One of the landforms in coastal areas that is changing the fastest is the shoreline. They are the most important component of the coastline. GIS provides the most detailed information on the dynamics of coastal landforms. Thus, it is crucial to accurately detect shorelines and regularly monitor them to understand the dynamics of various coastal features and processes. This study focuses on the shoreline changes and seawater intrusion in Kannur district, Kerala, India, utilizing multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). The analysis spans septennial years (Every 7 Years) for two decades’ shoreline changes from 2002 to 2023. The findings indicate that approximately 52.15% of Kannur's coastline has experienced erosion and 47.85% accretion. Over the past 20 years, the net shoreline movement shows a slight erosional trend, with a total change of -8.81 meters, averaging 0.43 meters per year.The study identifies the northern areas of Kannur, particularly Payyanur and Pazhayangadi, as highly vulnerable to erosion, while southern areas exhibit minor accretion. The study highlights the importance of integrating remote sensing and GIS technologies in shoreline studies, offering a cost-effective and efficient means of monitoring large coastal areas. The insights from this study provide valuable data for coastal zone management and infrastructure planning, particularly in addressing the risks associated with coastal erosion and the need for sustainable development in vulnerable coastal regions like Kannur. The results can serve as a foundation for developing targeted shoreline management strategies to mitigate future environmental and socio-economic impacts.