Remote sensing of beach erosion along the Rosetta promontary, northwestern Nile delta, Egypt

Abstract

The pattern of shoreline changes was identified along the Rosetta promontory of the Nile delta using Landsat-MSS taken in 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1985, and 1991 together with an aerial photograph of 1955. The satellite images were processed using change detection analyses to locate shoreline positions. These measurements provided a viable means for establishing long-term shoreline changes. The results reveal longshore patterns of beach erosion and accretion. The rate of the shoreline retreat has the greatest value along the promontory tip up to −70·8m yr⁻¹. This erosion progressively decreases with the longshore distance, being reversed to accretion within the promontory saddle and along Abu Quir Bay up to 38·2m yr⁻¹ In comparison with independent ground survey data, the established trend of coastal changes was found to be closely consistent with that measured by the beach profilesurvey. The detected pattern of erosion versus the accretion along this part of the delta reflected the natural processes of wave-induced longshore currents and sediment transport.