Multi-criteria coastal environmental vulnerability assessment using analytic hierarchy process based uncertainty...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Studies
• Geospatial Analysis

Background:

• Coastal zones are critical ecosystems facing increasing stress from climate change, human population growth, and economic activities.
• Understanding coastal vulnerability is essential for regional and global planning, especially in densely populated areas prone to extreme weather events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and map the coastal vulnerability of densely populated districts in South India.
• To identify key environmental variables influencing coastal vulnerability and their relative importance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized geospatial techniques and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for uncertainty analysis.
• Selected and weighted seven crucial variables: sea-level rise, coastal elevation, coastal slope, extreme rainy days, historical shoreline change, tidal range, and geomorphology.

Main Results:

• Identified high vulnerability to sea-level rise, extreme rainfall, geomorphology, and elevation.
• Found medium vulnerability to shoreline change and least vulnerability to coastal slope and tidal range.
• Quantified high vulnerability in 29% and 14.3% of studied coastal regions in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Geospatial assessment provides reliable maps for identifying critical coastal areas.
• The findings will guide conservation and adaptation strategies for vulnerable coastal zones in South India.