An assessment of natural and human-induced changes along Hurghada and Ras Abu Soma coastal area, Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

The Red Sea coastal zone is characterized by its sensitive, fragile, unique natural resources and habitats. In the Hurghada coastal region, major changes in the tourism industry have taken place in the last few decades. The detection of environmental changes, in a selected site of the Red Sea coastal zone, will be helpful to protect and develop this coastal environment. A methodology for separating natural and man-made changes in satellite images was developed. It was based on the following assumptions: (1) slow changes, which occur within the range of the class ree ectance, represent a natural change rather than an anthropogenic one; (2) natural changes tend to be in the same land-use/land-cover class in each date, i.e. slow changes in the ree ectance, not leading to changes in the type of land-use/land-cover class from the master image to the destination one; and (3) rapid changes in the ree ectance of the Earth's objects are usually related to anthropogenic activities. This technique is used to identify and assess changes along the coast of Hurghada and Ras Abu Soma, the Red Sea. Results indicate serious human impacts and the necessity for control measures and monitoring. Recommendations are presented. The Red Sea coastal zone is characterized by its sensitive, fragile, unique natural resources and habitats. Hurghada, as a representative part of the Red Sea coastal zone, is characterized by a wide diversity of natural resources, such as coral reefs, mangroves, sandy beaches, clear water and skies, barren terrain and many rare wildlife species. In the Hurghada coastal region, major changes in the tourism industry, with an increased rate of building hotels and tourism villages, have been experienced in the last few decades. So, the detection of environmental changes, in a selected site, and for Hurghada in particular, will be helpful to protect and develop this coastal environment. The study area, shown in e gure 1, is located in the north-western part of the Red Sea coastal zone. It lies between 33° 42e and 34° 01e E, and 26° 48e and 27° 18e N. The study area is divided into two sectors, Hurghada and Ras Abu Soma. The northern sector, Hurghada, is already developed without any sustainable planning.