VISAKHAPATNAM: Experts from across the country have expressed serious concern over changing beach morphology due to alarming rise in massive constructions all along the coastline.
At a one-day workshop organised by CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography here on Wednesday, the experts underlined the need for more studies on coastal processes and beach erosion in various States.
The workshop was inaugurated by Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao, who called for measures to prevent beach erosion.
NSTL Director P. Nandagopan and CSIR-NIO acting director S. Prasanna Kumar, in their speeches, said that for achieving a blue economy, ocean research would play a key role. NIO scientist in-charge of Visakhapatnam Regional Centre V.S.N. Murthy gave an overview of the workshop.
Aerosol concentration
NIO senior principal scientist V.V.S.N. Murthy spoke on aerosol composition and observed that Visakhapatnam had exceptionally high concentration of aerosol composition compared to other cities, except Kolkata, due to location of large number of industries in a bowel-shaped topography.
He said studies confirmed that atmospheric inversions and ageing of dust over Visakhapatnam.
Retired scientist of NIO K.S.R. Murthy said the Central Pollution Control Board had set up a five-member committee to prepare cumulative environment index of Visakhapatnam after withdrawing moratorium imposed on Greenfield and Brownfield industrial projects.
Rise in sea level
Noted ocean scientist A.S. Unnikrishnan said global sea level rise trends during 1992-2016 had revealed rise in sea level by 3.4 mm per year on an average. He said that processes of sea were changing due to land movements, alterations in ocean density, circulation and distribution of mass on earth.
Workshop co-convener G.P.S. Murthy spoke.
