The risk of high swell waves (HSWs) battering the State coast this week has receded significantly, much to the relief of coastal residents.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Telengana, had cautioned the State that waves measuring over two metres could reach its coast on Thursday. However, the latest assessment of wave patterns revealed that the wave height and the resultant risk had come down considerably.
Normal waves, which are typical to fair season sea, can be expected during the week, said L. Sheela Nair, a scientist at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram.
Latest wave data provided by wave rider buoys indicated that the significant wave height was less than one metre on the Kollam coast. The wave height was less than 1.5 metre in Kozhikode, which indicated that the risk of HSWs was coming down, she said. As per the revised alert issued by the INCOIS on Tuesday for the Kerala region, HSWs in the range of 1.5 metres to two metres were forecast till 11.30 p.m. on Thursday along the State coast between Vizhinjam and Kasaragod.
The NCESS, in collaboration with the INCOIS, had been monitoring the HSWs along the Kerala coast, which are vulnerable to high energy waves.
High energy waves had hit the coast last week, flooding roads and homes. They had also dumped huge quantities of sea sand, obstructing vehicular movement along coastal roads of Kochi.
Meanwhile, the INCOIS is planning to set up automated weather stations in Kollam and Kozhikode. Ocean researchers are looking for site specific weather data, which will give valuable information on the waves, said T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, Head, Ocean Sciences and Information Service Group of the INCOIS. Local wind data, at present unavailable, are required to understand the HSWs better, said Dr. Sheela.
“The two agencies together have deployed two wave rider buoys at a depth of 22 metres in Kozhikode and Kollam. Real-time wave data are obtained from these stations. Scientists need to know more about what is happening beyond the 22-metre-depth to understand the HSWs better,” she said.
