INCOIS Expands Coastal Flood Monitoring to Tackle Kallakkadal Surges in India

Context

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) installed a second Coastal Flood Monitoring System (CFMS) near Kollam Harbour to improve forecasting of “Kallakkadal” swell surge events

Read Also: UPSC Daily Current Affairs 2026

About Kallakkadal Surges

• Meaning: “Kallakkadal” refers to sudden coastal flooding caused by high-energy swell waves generated by distant storms in the southern Indian Ocean.
• Cause: Triggered by long-period ocean swells generated nearly 10,000 km away in the southern Indian Ocean.
• Scientific Basis: Linked to low-frequency infragravity waves formed through interactions among shorter waves in the open ocean.
  • Shoaling Effect: Wave height increases as waves move from deep to shallow waters.
  • Role of Coastal Bathymetry: Underwater topography amplifies wave energy near the shore.
• Wave Characteristics: These are long-period swells with wave periods ranging from 30–300 seconds.
• Vulnerable Regions in India: India’s southwest coast, especially Kerala, is highly vulnerable during the pre-monsoon season.(February–May).
• Impact: Threatens fishing communities, harbours, coastal infrastructure and low-lying settlements.

Coastal Flood Monitoring System (CFMS)

• A monitoring system integrating weather stations and high-frequency pressure sensors in shallow waters to track nearshore wave transformation and coastal water-level changes in real time.
• Developed and operated by INCOIS under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
• CFMS Locations: First CFMS was installed at Vizhinjam and the second near Kollam Harbour.
• Significance of CFMS: Strengthens early warning systems, improves forecast accuracy and enhances coastal disaster preparedness and resilience.

Sharing is caring!