Coastal Geomorphology and Habitats
摘要
This chapter demonstrates the geomorphology and habitats of the South Andaman Island groups. Various land classes and their genesis are studied with geospatial techniquesGeospatial techniques and through the monitoring geomorphological processesGeomorphological processes in the region with rigorous field survey works (2003–2018), paarticularly around the rock outcropsRock outcrops of the islands. The shoreline configuration typesShoreline configuration types of the embayed coastsEmbayed coasts and their stages of developmentStages of development are studied to identify the role of maritime processes over the geological time in this section of the study. The fringing coral reefFringing coral reefs habitats, shore platform backed mangrove habitats, littoral vegetationsLittoral vegetations, and the bio-encrustationsBio-encrustation of the shore platform surfacesShore platform surfaces are considered in the present study to represent their role in the formation of phytokarstic featuresPhytokarstic features. Reef sediment supply into the shore platforms and their morphodynamicsMorphodynamics under marine processes on the windward and leeward sidesLeeward sides of the islands are also represented with their surface morphometrySurface morphometry in this chapter. The geological and lithological componentsGeological and lithological components of the group of islands are explored at the sites of cliff outcrops and shore platform outcrops. Similarly, the carbonate rocks and their physical settings in consideration with the structural deformations like jointsJoints, fractures, and fault linesFault lines provided information about the mechanisms of karst featureKarst features development under subaerial weatheringWeathering and water-layered weatheringWeathering processes are discussed in this part of the study.