Multi-decadal coastal change detection using remote sensing: the Mediterranean coast of Egypt between El-Dabaa and Ras El-Hekma.

A key source of information for many decision support systems is identifying land use and land cover (LULC) based on remote sensing data. Land conservation, sustainable development, and water resource management all benefit from the knowledge obtained from detecting changes in land use and land cover. The present study aims to investigate the multi-decadal coastal change detection for Ras El-Hekma and El-Dabaa area along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, a multi-sectoral development area. Besides, the superiority of the area is highly dependent on its proximity to three development projects: the tourism and urban growth pole at Ras El-Hekma, the beachfront Alamain New Mega City, and the Nuclear Power Plant at El Dabaa. This study utilized multi-spectral Landsat satellite images covering 1990, 2010, and 2020 to perceive the post-classification change detection analysis of the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) over 30 years. The results of the supervised classification from 1990 to 2020 showed a 47.33 km2 (4.13%) expansion of the agricultural land area, whereas the bare soil land area shrunk to 73.13 km2 (6.24%). On the other hand, the built-up activities in the area launched in 2010 and escalated to 20.51 km2(1.77%) in 2020. The change in land use reveals the shift in the economic growth pattern in the last decade toward tourism and urban development. Meanwhile, it indicates that no conflict has yet arisen regarding the land use between the expanded socioeconomic main sectors (i.e., agriculture, and tourism). Therefore, the best practices of land use management and active participation of the stakeholders and the local community should be enhanced to achieve sustainability and avoid future conflicts. An area-specific plan including resource conservation measures and the provision of livelihood alternatives should be formulated within the National Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plan with the participation of the main stakeholders and beneficiaries. The findings of the present work may be considered useful for sustainable management and supportive to the decision-making process for the sustainable development of this area.

Temporal distribution of trace metals pollution load index in the Nile Delta coastal surface sediments.

The Mediterranean coastal area of the Nile Delta is socio-economically vital, however, it is under significant environmental stress due to pollution from land-based activities. The study investigates the temporal variations of trace metals to assess the development of the anthropogenic pollution status in the coastal sediments. The average concentrations, the enrichment factor, and the geoaccumulation index revealed that Cr, V, Ni, and Co are pollutants of concern. Trace metals are particularly accumulating in the sediments further offshore and in the middle and eastern sectors of the Nile Delta coast. The temporal patterns of the pollution load index (PLI) along the Nile Delta coastal indicate that pollution hotspots are increasingly exposed to trace metals pollution over time. This is linked to discharges from anthropogenic land-based activities and controlled by sedimentological factors. A conceptual model for the accumulation of trace metals in sediments is proposed based on this study.