Odisha Case Study

AQA A-Level Geograpgy - Coasts

What are the economic opportunities of the odisha coastline?

• 35% of the coastline has significant minerals and heavy metal deposits

  • Important clay and limestone resources to the N of the state

• Opportunities for offshore oil and natural gas

• Potential for offshore wind, tidal and wave power

• Cultural archeological sites along the coast attract tourists

• Beaches and wildlife - tourist attractions

• Local people involved in fishing

What are the environmental opportunities of the odisha coatsline?

• Chilika Lake → Bird sanctuary for over 150 migratory and resident species of birds

• Marine and coastal flora → mangroves, sea grasses, sand dunes, estuaries

• Stocks of fish, marine mammals, reptiles, Olive Ridley turtles, sea grass meadows and abundant seaweeds

General knowledge of the Odisha Coastline

• 480km long - relatively straight

• The Odisha Plains support the majority of the states population

• Moainly depositional landforms - 6 major deltas (Hexadeltic region)

• 1435km² of mangrove forest

• Chilika Lake → Salty lagoon with abundance of bird life

  • becomes less saline during monsoon season due to being diluited with freshwater

  • temp store in the water cycle

• Significant sediemnt store providing a source & sink of sediment for this part of the Bay of Bengal

• River = transfer sediement = deltas

Where is there the most erosion on the coastline?

In the south → Major structures (sea walls & riprap) slow down the erosion rates

How much of the coastline is eroding (%)

Eroding → 36.8%
Accreting → 46.8%

Stable → 14.4%

What effect has human interferance had on the erosion & sediment transfer?

→ Summer: Accretion due to low-wave energy conditions

→ Winter: Erosion due to high-energy desteuctive waves removing & depositing sediment offshore

Mangrove affect on accretion

→ levels of accretion are over 50% higher than anywhere else on the coast

What are the seasonal changes is flow?

Snow in winter melts in spring/summer

What was Cyclone Phailin’s affect on the coastline?

• Wind speeds of 200mph

• 1 million+ evacuated

• 44 died

• 500ha of agricultural crops destroyed

• Economic losses: close to £500 million

• Storm sugre hit lake Chilika → could take ecosystem years to recover

• 90% of coastal vegetation destroyed → including vast areas of mangroves

What are the mitigation strategies for the coastline against extreme weather events?

• Providing relief supplies ahead of approaching storm

• ‘Cyclone camps’ have been built

  • each can accomodate up to 1,500 people

• Broadcasting warnings

• construction of approaching roads of connectivity to cyclone shelters

• Regeneration of mangrove forests

What are the benefits of the mangroves as coastal protection?

→ Dense root systems trap sediments flowing down rivers off the land

→ Helps stabilise the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms

→ In areas lacking mangroves, coastal damage is much more severe

→ By filtering out sediments, the forests also protect coral reefs and seagrass from being smothered in sediment

How is the Mahanadi Delta being managed?

Wetlands International (NGO), the Indian Gov and Odisha’s ICZM project are helping villagers to cultivate and plant mangroves along the coastline & also on the banks of all tidal rivers along Odisha’s coast

What is the Odisha ICZM plan?

• Launched in 2010

• Aims →

  • Ecosystem conservation

  • Shoreline protection

  • Community engagement & livelihood support

• Critiques →

  • Implementation delays

  • Inadequate ecosystem based approaches Long term viability e.g. funding