Integration of remotely sensed and seismicity data for geo-natural hazard assessment along the Red Sea Coast, Egypt

Abstract

The flooding and seismic activity analysis clearly shows the urgent need for an evaluation planning program to mitigate hazard for the vital areas. The Red Sea coastal area is always exposed to the risk of flash floods and earthquakes; therefore, the management and determination of geo-hazard in these areas are critically important. A risk map was produced for the study area by integrated flash flooding and seismicity data. Several valuable data have been applied to accomplish this work which include ALOS-PALSAR, satellite images, and earthquake data. Seismic hazard assessment was performed using probabilistic earthquake hazard assessment; Results of the iso-acceleration maps and hazard curves for a return period of 475 years showed that the seismic hazard values increase from southern to northern parts. The morphometric parameter interpretations illustrate that 6 sub-basins (40% of total sub-basins) are of high-flooding hazardous, 5 sub-basins of moderate hazard (33.33%), and 4 of low hazard (26.66%). Finally, geo-hazard map results markedly increase from south to north in the study area. So, we recommend that some dams and channels should be constructed in vital sites along and at the end of the channel Wadi to protect it against flood hazards along the Red Sea Coast for long-term sustainable development without problems. These findings can be a potential guide for decision-makers in disaster geo-hazard reduction in this interest coastal area.