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An analysis of beach profile changes subsequent to the Colombo Harbor Expansion Project, Sri Lanka

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Abstract

Man-made coastal structures directly affect sediment balance and sediment dynamics on the surrounding beaches. The Colombo Harbor Expansion Project has created about 5-km-long breakwater nearly perpendicular to the beach. The present study is focused on quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the effect of the Colombo Harbor Expansion Project on economically important beaches in and around Colombo city area. In this study, the authors measured monthly variations of beach width, beach profile and the mean grain-size of the sediments at mean sea level for complete annual monsoon cycle. Data were analyzed to establish site-specific erosion vulnerability. Monitoring results show that cumulative beach erosion has increased after the construction of the breakwater (rate = 0.7 m/year from May 2000 to April 2011 and rate = 28.2 m/year from April 2011 to June 2012). In addition, the cumulative and site-specific sand accretion and erosion patterns have a clear relationship with the monsoon seasonality. Beaches were narrower during the stormy southwestern monsoon, whereas beaches were wider during fair weather of northeast monsoon and inter-monsoon periods. In contrast, the constructed breakwater obstructs natural longshore sediment dynamics. For example, a significant amount of sediments from the Kelani-Ganga River were buried in the Colombo Harbor due to alteration of prominent longshore sediments transportation on the western coast of Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study shows enhancement of coastal erosion in the studied southern beaches due to a lack of sediment deposition.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank A.R. Amarasinghe and H.M.S.D. Gunathilake of the Oceanography Laboratory for providing assistance in the field works.

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Author notes

  1. Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake

    Present address: Faculty of Science and Technology, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla, 90000, Sri Lanka

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

    Nalin Prasanna Ratnayake, Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake, P. V. Keegle, M. A. K. M. Mallawa Arachchi & H. M. R. Premasiri

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  1. Nalin Prasanna Ratnayake
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  2. Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake
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  3. P. V. Keegle
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Correspondence to Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake.

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Ratnayake, N.P., Ratnayake, A.S., Keegle, P.V. et al. An analysis of beach profile changes subsequent to the Colombo Harbor Expansion Project, Sri Lanka. Environ Earth Sci 77, 24 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7234-8

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