Assessment of North Sinai Shoreline Morphodynamics Using Geospatial Tools and DSAS Technique

Abstract

This study employs a digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS) to identify and evaluate historical changes in the coastline along the North Sinai coast of Egypt. Using multi-temporal satellite images, change detection is explored along coastline over 27 years (1989–2016). The annualized uncertainty of shoreline changes was calculated. Erosion and accretion patterns were automatically quantified via four statistical parameters in the DSAS model namely net shoreline movement (NSM), rate of −8.17 m year−1 was recorded at the west seaside of El-Tinah plain throughout the 27 years. This recession of the shoreline is attributed to the joint effect of the stormy climate of the western seaside and the sediments transport from the Nile Delta. shoreline has progressed west of El-Bardawil inlet towards El-Arish harbor, where wave-induced littoral transport is ceased by the construction of jetties. The shoreline at the downdrift side of the jetties to the east has adversely retreated where the subsequent beaches are reverted at rates of −4.5 and −2.9 m year−1. Lastly, the EPR model was utilized for quantifying shoreline changes in the near future of years 2025, 2035, and 2050.