Using RS&GIS to study the change detection in the geomorphological features of the nile delta coastal plain

Abstract EN

A change detection of the geomorphological feature involves analysis of a series of images of different dates.

In water resources studies, land cover is a most commonly studied feature.

The analyst might be interested in both short–term (e.

g.

, flood inundation or snow cover) as well as long-term (e.

g.

, deforestation or expansion of urban area) changes ( Jensen, et.

al, 2010 ).

  In this sense, this research deals with the change detection in the geomorphological features of the Nile Delta coastal plain using geographical information system and remote sensing, by monitoring shoreline changes, sabkhas, sand dunes and, finally changes in coastal lakes.

The study of shoreline changes revealed the prevalence of erosion in the places of the Delta promontories and Manzala lake barrier.

The area exposed to erosion reached 19.6 km², or 62% during the period from 1945 to 1983.

The largest ranges of accretion are distributed to the west and east from Rashid promontory, sand spit of Damietta and Gamasa Bay area.

As for sabkhas changes of the study area, it was revealed by comparing the data of the satellite images from 1984 to 2003 that the area of the sabkhas on Manzala Lake barrier decreased by 1.9 km² (15.7% ).

Where sand deposits and fish ponds covered large areas of sabkhas.

During the same period, the areas covered by sand dunes were significantly reduced.

Only a quarter of the area of Gamasa sand dunes was left in 1984, and the remaining area (76.31% ) was converted to other uses.

Manzala Lake lost 297 km² (43% ) during the period 1984- 2003.

Burullus Lake was also affected by the decline in the area of the water body, similar to the trend in the lakes of study area.

This is linked to the expansion of the fish ponds located southof the lake towards the water body to the north