<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> Littoral transport studies along west coast of India – A review </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

Abstract

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> This article presents an overview of investigations that were carried out to determine the dynamics of littoral transport along the west coast of India, during last three decades. Sedimentological methods, wave refraction diagrams, tracer tracking, geomorphic indicators etc. have been used for determination of littoral dynamics at various locations and along larger areas of west coast of India. Wave refraction studies have been conducted to determine locations of wave convergence and divergence, rip currents and to provide quantitative measurements of littoral drift and drift direction for local as well as regional areas. However, studies based on geomorphic indicators aided with remote sensing techniques were reliable to determine littoral drift cells and drift direction within each cell and net littoral drift direction along west coast of India. This review indicates that though littoral drift is variable, bi-directional and season dependent, long-term net littoral drift along west coast of India is southwards. Efforts have also been made to highlight the neglected aspects, merits and demerits of various methods used. </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>