Human impact on the coastal landforms in the area between gamasa and kitchner drains, Northern Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

To detect the spatial characteristics of coastal landforms in a section of the Nile Delta region (Egypt) between 1984 and 2006, multitemporal satellite imagery was examined. The study area between Gamasa drain and Kitchner drain (Northern Nile Delta) shows significant changes that are supposed to be functions of the aeolian and coastal processes. This is, however, not the case where unprecedented human activities played a trigger factor in reshaping this area. The intervention of human activities in this area has resulted in a significant transformation of the existing landforms and introduced new land use classes. Remote sensing techniques offered a real-time source of information that aided in determining 11 landforms or use classes. A geographic information system spatial analysis model has generated a spatial matrix that quantified the rate of changes and therefore defined the controlling factors of such a highly dynamic environment. The local economy and socioeconomic circumstances have been shown to be driving forces of landforms transformation in favor of developing reclaimed land and fish farms. These two land use class were significantly increased by 37 and 11 of the total area in the last two decades, respectively. © 2010, the Coastal Education & Research Foundation (CERF).