Multi-Seasonal Remote Sensing Analysis of Shoreline Dynamics along the Visakhapatnam Coast, India

This study investigates multi-seasonal shoreline dynamics along the Visakhapatnam coast, eastern India, using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery acquired between 2016 and 2024. Shoreline positions were extracted for Pre-Monsoon, Post-Monsoon, and Winter periods, and analysed through transect-based change detection across seven coastal zones.Results indicate pronounced seasonal variability. Winter emerged as the most erosive phase, with 61% of transects exhibiting shoreline retreat under the influence of high-energy northeast monsoon waves. Deposition was moderate (31%), while stability was minimal (8%). The Post-Monsoon period reflected a constructive phase, dominated by 51% depositional transects and 45% erosional transects, suggesting active sediment redistribution driven by monsoonal flooding and riverine inputs. Pre-Monsoon conditions reflected a transitional equilibrium, with 50% erosion, 29% deposition, and the highest stability (21%), marking a short-lived balance prior to the onset of the southwest monsoon.Zonal analysis revealed persistent erosion in the northern sectors (Zones 1–3 and 7), while Zone 6 consistently displayed stability and deposition, likely due to geomorphic protection and port-related structures. These findings highlight spatiotemporal shoreline variability strongly controlled by monsoonal circulation, wave regimes, and local geomorphic/anthropogenic influences. The results underscore the need for season-specific coastal management strategies, emphasizing erosion mitigation in the northern sectors and conservation of depositional/stable zones to support sustainable coastal development.