Spatial and Temporal Variations in Shoreline Changes of the Niger Delta during 1986–2019

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the shoreline movement of the Niger delta, specifically focusing on the spatial pattern of the delta’s shoreline behaviour during 1986–2019. We employed satellite data of medium spatial resolution (20–30 m) to delimit the delta shorelines representing specific time in order to determine the rates of the delta shoreline migration. Our results show that the delta shoreline has changed nearly in equal proportion between erosion (50.3%) and accretion (49.7%), at mean (maximum) rates of 3.9 m/yr. (26 m/yr.) of erosion, and 4.0 m/yr. (27 m/yr.) of accretion. Further analysis indicates that the highest shoreline migration is seaward (>200 m) though the ratio of the shoreline distance in recession (54%) exceeds that which is in accretion. Our analysis did not reveal any entrenched spatial pattern of shoreline behaviour but rather highlights a random occurrence of hotspots in both shoreline erosion and accretion over space and time. We have also showed that by applying the statistical mean-removed shoreline approach, the overall trend of a delta shoreline movement can be vividly discriminated. In conclusion, since the Niger delta shoreline dynamics is most intense at the delta river mouths, we suggest this is likely due to the interaction between waves and river discharge in these locations.