The coastal zone of the Nile Delta is a promising area for energy resources and industrial activities. It also contains important wetland ecosystems. This coastal area witnessed several changes during the last century. A set of four satellite images from the multi-spectral scanner (MSS), thematic mapper (TM) and Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) sensors were utilized in order to estimate the spatio-temporal changes that occurred in the coastal zone between Damietta Nile branch and PortSaid between 1973 and 2007. Image processing applied in this study included geometric rectification; atmospheric correction; on-screen shoreline digitizing of the 1973 (MSS) and 2007 (SPOT) images for tracking the shoreline position between Damietta promontory and Port-Said; and water index approach for quantifying Manzala lagoon surface area change using 1973 (MSS), 1984 (TM) and 2003 (TM) images. Results showed that coastal erosion was severe near Damietta promontory and decreased eastward, however, accretion was observed near Port-Said. About 50% of the coastal strip was under erosion and 13% was under accretion. In addition, a remarkable decline (34.5%) of the Manzala lagoon surface area was estimated. These changes were attributed mainly to the control of the River Nile flooding and the land use change by anthropogenic activities.

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The Nile Delta covers only 2% of Egypt's area but hosts 41% of the country's population and comprises 63% of its agricultural land. Analysis of digital elevation models revealed that 18.1% of the delta lies below the mean sea level, 12.7% has an elevation between 0 and 1 m, and 13.1% lies between 1 and 2 m. If the sea level rises by 1 or 2 m, these areas are prone to be flooded. The western section of the delta is most vulnerable to a 1 m sea level rise, whereas the entire coastal areas are impacted by flooding when the sea level rises by 2 m. Locations susceptible to inundation encompass urban neighbourhoods, agricultural areas and coastal wetlands.

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