The Impact of Urbanization Expansion on the Geomorphology of the Southern Coastal Sabkhas from Ras Al-Jailiaha to Al-Khiran, South Kuwait

A E Al-Hurban,A K Al-Dalamah

doi:10.4236/jgis.2019.115038

Abstract

Kuwait is considered one of the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula, that subjected to geomorphological processes forming the earth’s surface features. The anthropogenic activities through urbanization affected the earth geomorphology in the southern coastal sabkhas of Kuwait such as (Al-Jailiaha, Az-Zor and Al-Khiran). This study aims to monitor the geomorphological changes on the southern coastal sabkhas due to the urbanization expansion. Geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques were used to study these changes, determine the areas of the coastal sabkhas in the southern part of Kuwait, following the developments, and identifying land cover in the area and its coastal strip including tourist resorts, sand dunes, and smooth sand sheets. The satellite images used in this study based on the data of Landsat-5 (TM) 1985, and Landsat-5 (TM) 1990, Landsat-7 (ETM+) 2001, visuals Landsat-8 (OLI) 2016 covering the years of (1985, 1990, 2001, 2016), in order to detect changes in the sabkhas and the extension of urbanization in the region. Digital Maps were made to show how extent the study area was affected by urbanization. Urbanization mostly expanded to the south in the study area on the account of the coastal sabkhas, where the area of the coastal sabkhas in 1985 was about 103.1 km2 and in 1990 it was about 84.1 km2. This led to the shrinking of the sabkhas area and extension of the resort area within the areas of sabkhas and sand dunes, particularly in Al-Khiran coastal area exposing it to the problem of sand drift and sand encroachment, which resulted in changes of the characteristics of the sabkhas, shrinkage of their area, and adverse impacts on their geomorphology.

Highlights

The state of Kuwait is located at the NW side of the Arabian Gulf and has an area of about 17,818 km2
The methods of change detection are based on observing the differences in the reflection of electromagnetic radiation, which can be observed by monitor the changes in digital numbers, or as often called digital values (Brightness values)
Multi-dated satellite images showed that implementation of the rapid urban expansion had led to significant changes and devastation of important geomorphological features such as the main natural features especially the salt marsh or as locally known as coastal sabkhas, as well as the coastal ridges in the southern sector of Kuwait in the area extending from RasAz-Zor to Al-Khiran area

Summary

Introduction

The state of Kuwait is located at the NW side of the Arabian Gulf and has an area of about 17,818 km. In this study geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques were used being efficient and accurate in measuring the area of the sabkhas, which can help the decision-maker in their plans for future development and expansion in this region They were applied using satellite images of the area for the years of (1985, 1990, 2001, and 2016) to determine the location of the coastal sabkhas in the southern part of Kuwait between Ras Al-Jailiaha to the Al-Khiran (Figure 1), their development and geomorphological changes during the period from (1985-2016). The term “Sabkha” is originally an Arabic name for saline flats or surfaces, which are based on silt and clay, sand and sand formations and are often covered with saline crusts [1] It describes a low lying land, close to the level of groundwater or sea level as one of the characteristic geomorphological forms of many arid and semi-arid regions. The encrusted surface is composed usually of hygroscopic salts [5]

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