Authors: Olwig, M. F.¹; Sørensen, M. K.¹; Rasmussen, M. S.¹; Danielsen, F.²; Selvam, V.³; Hansen, L. B.¹; Nyborg, L.¹; Vestergaard, K. B.¹; Parish, F.⁴; Karunagaran, V. M.³

Source: International Journal of Remote Sensing, Volume 28, Numbers 13-14, 2007 , pp. 3153-3169(17)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

This paper describes how remote sensing techniques were used to study the effect of mangroves and other woody coastal vegetation as a protective measure against the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Remote sensing made it possible to compare pre- and post-Tsunami images of large areas. A study site was selected based on medium resolution Landsat imagery and existing topographic maps. Selection criteria included substantial damages reported, presence of woody vegetated and non-vegetated shorelines, homogeneous bathymetry and good coverage of pre- and post-Tsunami satellite imagery. The Pichawaram mangrove, Tamil Nadu, India, matched these criteria. Pre- and post-Tsunami Ikonos and QuickBird images were compared through the visual interpretation of pre-Tsunami coastal vegetation and post-Tsunami damage. The results were validated in the field. The analysis showed that mangrove forests and coastal shelterbelts provided protection from the Tsunami. This was concluded from analysing the spatial distribution of damage relative to woody vegetation along the coast as well as transects detailing the amount of damage behind the coastline and the coastal woody vegetation.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431160701420597

Affiliations: 1: Geographical Resource Analysis and Science A/S (GRAS), c/o Department for Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark 2: Nordeco, Copenhagen DK-1159, Denmark 3: M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India 4: Wetlands International-Indonesia, Global Environment Centre, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Publication date: 2007-07-01

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