In recent decades, water shortages have become a significant problem. Sudan is no exception. In addition to the main towns of Port Sudan and Suakin, many villages scattered along the Red Sea coast also experience severe shortages of fresh water and electricity supply. The problem recently worsened after the Arbaat Dam's collapse, which was Port Sudan's main source of fresh water. Desalination of seawater and brackish water can play a significant role in addressing this issue. In this field, reverse osmosis (RO) is predominant due to its many advantages. However, this technology consumes a significant amount of energy. In many places around the world, freshwater shortages are accompanied by an abundance of solar energy. In this study, one of the existing desalination plants in Port Sudan was considered to investigate the possibility of shifting it to run on solar power instead of electricity from the national grid, or that generated by diesel engines. The plant under study is a small RO unit with a capacity of 7 m3/h. It consumes energy at a rate of 6.6 kWh/m3. PVsyst software has been used to design and simulate the solar photovoltaic system which can drive the desalination unit. Results showed that with a PV array total power of 95.2 kW and 9360 Ah battery capacity, the system can work steadily for 7 hours daily to produce 49 m3/day of fresh water. The solar system's p annual performance ratio (PR) is 60.3% with a solar fraction equal to 100%. While the simple payback period (SPB) for the photovoltaic system is found to be 1.74 years.

The Red Sea coast is overcrowded by many international and local harbors, particularly Shalateen harbor, that imposes environmental threats on the marine biota. The Shalateen ecosystem is assessed using benthic foraminifera, a sensitive proxy to environmental change. This study investigated the relationship between ecological parameters and benthic foraminifera distribution in the Shalateen site, a coastal area on the Red Sea facing increasing environmental deterioration. A total of 17 stations were sampled, and their benthic foraminiferal contents were analyzed. The findings revealed enriched benthic foraminiferal assemblages, dominated by Miliolida and Rotaliida, where counted morphological deformities in foraminiferal tests were observed and counted. Siamese twins, wrong direction of coiling, and aberrant chambers are the depicted test abnormalities. They are higher in the miliolids than rotaliids. A statistical analysis identified two distinct foraminiferal assemblages; group 1 is associated with shallow, high-energy habitats with elevated salinity and carbonate content, while group 2 occupies deeper waters with higher organic matter and finer sediments. The environmental-based foraminiferal indices (FAI, FI, FMI and AEI) highlighted that the stations in the nearby harbor have higher environmental impacts than the offshore stations. These findings provide crucial baseline data for future environmental management and conservation efforts in this vulnerable ecosystem.

Sharm Obhur, situated approximately 35 km north of Jeddah City along the Red Sea coast, is a prominent recreational area with diverse benthic habitats. Accurate mapping of seabed sediments is critical for characterizing marine ecosystems and elucidating benthic habitat distribution in this region. This study underscores the importance of assessing sediment distribution patterns in Sharm Obhur, particularly due to the prevalence of recreational activities and navigational traffic. This research investigates sediment dynamics in Sharm Obhur, a coastal creek near Jeddah, utilizing Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) backscatter data and grab sample analyses. The study focuses on understanding sediment distribution patterns and their implications for coastal management. MBES technology provides high-resolution data on seafloor composition and roughness, essential for assessing sediment types and bedforms. Through spatial alignment of MBES data with ground truth sediment samples, we analyze sediment characteristics and validate findings. Results indicate predominant sand presence with detectable mud in deeper channels and northern anthropogenically impacted areas. Gravel deposits correlate with coral formations near the creek edges. Tidal influence is evident, with increased sand presence at the creek entrance. The study demonstrates MBES backscatter's efficacy in mapping sediment distributions and seabed characteristics, benefiting marine science and coastal management. This research enhances knowledge of sediment transport processes, facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable coastal development and conservation efforts.

The shore crab, Cyclograpsus aff. integer (Subfamily Cyclograpsinae, Family Varunidae: Superfamily Grapsoidea), is recorded for the first time from the Egyptian Red Sea coasts and from the entire Red Sea. This species is a small-sized crab, lives in burrows at the upper intertidal zone of the sandy-mud and sandy bottom mixed with small pebbles. The diagnostic characters with illustrations distinguished it from other closely allied species were given. All information on crab habitat, color, diagnostic and morphological characters of this species were given and discussed.

Life Cycle Analysis of Tourism Destinations According to Butler's model: A Case Study for Tourist Centers on the Red Sea coast

Brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) have a wide range throughout the pantropical oceans, with a few exceptions. Even though this species has an extensive distribution range, little is known about its breeding distribution in the Red Sea region. Brown booby populations were surveyed on 16 islands across the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia in 2011, 2012, and 2013. This survey aimed to evaluate the breeding populations and conservation of the Brown Booby in the Red Sea of Saudi Arabia. A total of four new colonies comprising of about 33 nests in total were found on three islands. These three islands are flat-surfaced with a height of fewer than two meters; they are covered with sand and have mangrove shrubs. Brown boobies face multiple threats, including human disturbance, the introduction of animals, and predation. Finally, both research and conservation management are vital for ensuring the long-term survival of seabird populations and the Red Sea ecosystems.

This study evaluates the onshore wind power potential along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia to inform strategic planning for renewable energy-supported transportation electrification. Nine locations, spaced 120-240 km apart, were selected based on 10-year wind speed data and analyzed. Distinct wind patterns were identified between the northwest and southwest coasts. Hourly meteorological data (from January 2014 to December 2023) was obtained and average annual wind speed and power density values were estimated. Sites were evaluated using NREL's classification system. The study utilized the maximum likelihood estimation derived Weibull distribution, shape and scale parameters to model power density and mean speed. Capacity factors were analyzed for 36 wind turbine models spanning 1.5-4MW to identify the wind turbine optimally suited to each region's wind resources. Annual capacity factor performance determined the models' ability to reliably activate concurrent electric vehicle charging ports. Leading choices included Suzlon's 4MW S146 consistently demonstrating highest median port activations. MingYang's 3MW MySE3.0-135 and Windey's 3MW WD140-3000 emerged as optimal with stable double-digit port activations depending on wind resources. SANY's 2MW SE12520 and Windey's 2MW WD121-2000 also performed prominently across sites. Dongfang's 1.5MW G2000-116 maintained strong performance. The results characterize wind energy potential and pinpoint optimal turbine selections capable of stably supporting transportation electrification targets depending on site conditions. In addition, the results also provide valuable information related to strategic integration planning to maximize the onshore wind sector's contribution to Saudi Arabia's renewable energy and emissions reduction goals through electrified transportation.

The Red Sea is one of the main traffic routes of oil tankers, resulting in environmental damage and marine resource pollution due to the spillage. Quantitative analysis of tar ball was used to detect the concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAHs). In this study, six stations across the Red Sea coast of Yemen were selected according to their suitability and accessibility. An ultraviolet fluorescence technique was used to analyze the TPHs and TAHs after being extracted by an ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction procedure. The concentrations of TPHs ranged from 175.67 ± 11.20 mg/g to 708.55 ± 6.57 mg/g, and for TAHs were from 16.06 ± 1.89 mg/g to 48.25 ± 1.76 mg/g. The highest values of TPHs and TAHs were noticed in Ras Isa-II station, which reflected a continued oil spill from the Safir oil loading terminal. The study revealed significant environmental and health risks to marine organisms and humans.

The Wadi Haily basin in southwest Saudi Arabia, which runs along the Red Sea coast, serves as an ideal natural laboratory for understanding flash flood dynamics in this region. However, limited morphometric and hydrological data are currently available in this area. This study aims to analyze key morphometric effective parameters to examine and assess flash flood risk potential within the basin. Using remote sensing, GIS, geological, and topographical datasets, this research combines advanced modeling and GIS tools to produce detailed flood hazard maps and risk assessments. This study examines 15 sub-basins of varying sizes, characterized by primary stream orders ranging from 4th to 8th. Based on morphometric analysis, the basins are categorized by flood susceptibility: four basins have a low flood risk, five exhibit moderate risk, and six are highly susceptible to flooding. Key findings indicate that the study area features a vast drainage area, high grid cell values of the drainage frequency, moderate drainage density, elongated basin shapes, low infiltration rates, and long overland flow distances, all suggesting a heightened flood hazard. Additional indicators include high values in gradient ratios, slopes, ruggedness numbers, relief ratios, and basin relief, reinforcing the basin’s flash flood vulnerability. This study provides a comprehensive morphological framework that can support strategic flood management and hazard mitigation planning for the Wadi Haily region.

BackgroundAvicennia marina ecosystems are critical for coastal protection, water quality enhancement, and biodiversity support. These unique ecosystems thrive in extreme saline conditions and host a diverse microbiome that significantly contributes to plant resilience and growth. Global food security is increasingly threatened by crop yield losses due to abiotic stresses, including saline soils. Traditional plant breeding for salt tolerance is both costly and time-consuming. This study explores the potential of bacteria from A. marina to enhance plant growth under saline conditions, emphasizing their ecological significance.ResultsWe analyzed the microbiome of A. marina from the Red Sea coast using high-throughput Illumina sequencing and culture-dependent methods across various compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, roots, and leaves). Our findings revealed distinct compartment-specific microbial communities, with Proteobacteria being the dominant phylum. Functional predictions indicated diverse microbial roles in metal uptake and plant growth promotion (PGP). Remarkably, our culture-dependent methods allowed us to recover 56% of the bacterial diversity present in the microbiome, resulting in the isolation and characterization of 256 bacterial strains. These isolates were screened for PGP traits, including salt and heat tolerance, siderophore production, and pectinase activity. Out of the 77 bacterial isolates tested, 11 demonstrated a significant ability to enhance Arabidopsis growth under salt stress.ConclusionsOur study highlights the ecological significance of mangrove microbiomes and the potential of culture collections in offering innovative solutions for ecological restoration and crop production in saline conditions. The unique collection of mangrove bacteria, particularly from the rhizosphere and endophytes, showcases significant PGP traits and stress tolerance capabilities. These findings emphasize the importance of functional traits, such as salt tolerance, in the recruitment of endophytic bacteria by plants over taxonomic affiliation. The identified bacterial strains hold potential not only for developing biofertilizers to improve crop productivity but also for ecological restoration projects aimed at rehabilitating saline-degraded lands, thereby contributing to overall ecosystem health and sustainability.

Ecological risk assessment and potential source of As, Cd, Co, and Ni in Al Qunfudhah seawater, Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

The Role of Technological Tools in Managing Yacht Marinas: A Study of the Red Sea Coast

Natural habitats in littoral salt marshes and desert salt marshes along the coastline of the Red Sea are inhabited by several halophytes, which tolerate salinity stress in these areas. Two distinct halophytes inhabiting the Red Sea coast, Limonium axillare and Nitraria retusa, were studied for their physiological adaptations and energy sources. Results revealed the accumulation of the most abundant soil salts in their tissues. The soils in the study area recorded high concentrations of Na + and Clcompared with other ions such as Ca 2+ , Mg 2+, and K + . To combat this stress, the two species absorb salts to adjust the osmotic potential and raise the concentrations of soluble organic compounds -such as proline, soluble sugars, and nitrogen components -in their leaves. In anaerobic digestion, both species yield many organic components that might act as a source to produce biogas. L. axillare produced more biogas 277.58 ml g -1 TS (361.23 ml g -1 VS) compared with N. retusa which produced 204.2 ml g -1 TS (309.4 ml g -1 VS). The presence of soluble organic solutes represents easily breakable molecules in anaerobic digestion. Therefore, L. axillare produced more biogas with more soluble carbohydrates (22.15 mg g -1 dry wt), proline (13.47 mg g -1 dry wt), and soluble protein (33.06 mg g -1 dry wt) compared with N. retusa which contains less soluble carbohydrates (18.53 ml g -1 dry wt), proline (13.64 mg g -1 dry wt), and soluble protein (20.04 mg g -1 dry wt).

An emerging hazard to nesting sea turtles in the face of sea-level rise

The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Enhancing Marketing and Visitor Experience in Yacht Marinas: A Study of the Red Sea Coast

Density and diversity of larval fish in some coastal bays in Sharm El-Sheikh, northern Red Sea, Egypt

Concentrations, spatial distributions, and origins of natural aliphatic lipids and sterols in sediments of Obhur Lagoon, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia

To assess the contamination levels, sources, and ecological health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the sediments of Al Lith on the Saudi Red Sea coast, 25 samples were collected and analyzed for Zn, V, Cr, Cu, Ni, As, Pb, and Fe using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The average concentrations of PTEs (μg/g) were obtained in the following order: Fe (14,259) > V (28.30) > Zn (22.74) > Cr (16.81) > Cu (12.41) > Ni (10.63) > As (2.66) > Pb (2.46). The average values of enrichment factor were in the following order: As (1.12) > Zn (0.75) > V (0.70) > Cr (0.69) > Cu (0.69) > Pb (0.67) > Ni (0.46). This indicated that the Al Lith sediments exhibited either no or minimal enrichment of PTEs, with concentrations below the low effect range. This suggests that the primary source of these PTEs is the minerals associated with the basement rocks of the Arabian Shield (sphalerite, vanadiferous magnetite, chromite, pentlandite, arsenopyrite, and galena) and that they are unlikely to pose a substantial risk to benthic communities. The hazard index (HI) values for the PTEs in both adults and children were below 1.0, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) values for Pb, As, and Cr in both adults and children were within acceptable or tolerable levels, posing no significant health threats. However, a few samples showed LCR values exceeding 1 × 10−4, which may indicate potential risks.

While there is a considerable body of data regarding the sources of minerals employed in Bronze Age Egypt, the supply chains to Sudanese Lower Nubia are virtually unknown. This paper presents results of lead isotope analysis of 11 samples of kohl from C-group, Pan-grave and New Kingdom funerary contexts across the Debeira and Ashkeit areas in Sudanese Lower Nubia during the Bronze Age. The samples could be divided in two groups based on their lead isotope ratios. A comparison between the kohl samples from Sudanese Lower Nubia and galena ores from various mining sites on the Red Sea coast of Egypt indicated that some of the galena used in kohl mixtures in Sudanese Lower Nubia came from the Pharaonic mining site of Gebel el-Zeit. The second group of Nubian samples seems to have originated from an alternative galena source yet to be determined. This is the first time that kohl samples from Sudanese Lower Nubia are integrated into known northeast African networks of supply by using Lead isotope analysis.

Statistical analysis of extreme sea levels in the Red Sea