Vulnerability of the Nile Delta to sea level rise: an assessment using remote sensing

Type Journal Article - Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk
Title Vulnerability of the Nile Delta to sea level rise: an assessment using remote sensing
Author(s)
Volume 1
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 315-321
URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19475705.2010.516912#.VRxCtvmUfwY
Abstract
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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