Temporal and spatial characteristics of shoreline variability at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper describes the long-term shorelines variability of Cox's Bazar coast which is located southeast part of Bangladesh in terms of spatial and temporal over a period of 40 years. Recently the coast is experiencing severe erosion and it is becoming more vulnerable in some specific location. The spatial and temporal variability of the shorelines position is split by Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOFs) decomposition. The result of EOF analysis shows the first five modes explains 86% of the variance and the recent erosion problem may have some relation with the variation around the Reju Khal area. The dominant modes of shoreline variability were correlated with the wave energy flux components estimated by MIKE21 SW model. The large variation around the Reju Khal may be due to longshore sediment movement, and the erosion problem at Marine Drive Road may have some connection with a growing spit.