Geosystem Responses to December 26,2004 Tsunami and Mitigation Strategies for Cuddalore-Nagapattinam Coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The recent disastrous tsunami of December 26, 2004, has not only alarmed the administrative and the planning machinery to have tsunami mitigation strategies for India, but also signalled the geoscientists to have a deeper look on the phenomenon of tsunami and the vulnerabilities of the Indian coasts. In this context, the authors have conducted a study primarily to evaluate the responses of the coastal geosystems to the tsunami mundations, as it is a very vital component in framing strategies for mitigating the effect of tsunami. The study has revealed that the central coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, namely Cuddalore-Nagapattinam districts, which were worst affected by the recent tsunami, expose a combination of landforms of tectonic, fluvial, fluvio-Marine and marine processes. These different landforms have responded differently to the recent tsunami viz as facilitators, carriers, accommodators, absorbers, barriers etc. On the basis of the same, different eco-Friendly, cost effective and result oriented methods are suggested to mitigate the effects of tsunamis.