Remote sensing monitoring of recent morphodynamics in Kalido Beach - Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Kalutara is the major city in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. Kalido Beach is a strip of beach that runs between Kalu Ganga and the Indian Ocean. It is known for its unique ecosystem. Nonetheless, in recent years it facing challenges such as natural erosion from the sea, tourist visits, and pollutions. In addition to that recently it washed out from its original location due to the heavy flood i n May 2017. Southwest monsoon weather condition brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern parts of Sri Lanka and cause so many damages to people and nature. After the flood level has risen people excavated channel across the Kalido sand dune just for control flood and discharge extra water to the sea. As a subsidiary effect of that, the Kalido sand dune washed out and a new beach developed near to the country. I n this study, it investigates the incident in Remote Sensing and GIS perspective. Finally, it reveals that there were approximately 690 m of movement of the center of the new sand dune to the southeast direction respect to the previous Kalido sand dune