Chapter 19
Satellite Surveys of Lagoon and Coastal Waters
in the Southeastern Mediterranean Area
Mahmoud Ahmed and Vittorio Barale
Abstract Satellite observations provide elements about the environmental status of
the major lagoons in northern Egypt (i.e. Lakes Maryut, Edku, Burullus, Manzala
and Bardawil) and the adjacent marine area off the Nile River delta, in the southwestern Mediterranean region. Examples are shown of data collected by various sensors
onboard the Landsat, Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) and EgyptSat-1
satellite series, and by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The
remote sensing-derived parameters (e.g. lagoon size, aquatic vegetation patterns
and other water quality parameters) allow to evaluate evolution and degradation of
the near-coastal water bodies in the last four decades. The basic ecosystem indicators delivered by the satellite surveys are considered important contributions for the
establishment of a sound decision-making process for environmental management
purposes, aiming to ensure protection of natural systems and sustainability of human
activities.
19.1 Introduction
The coast of northeastern Africa, in the southern Levantine Basin of the Mediterranean Sea, is contiguous to and influenced by vast desert areas. However, it is
also bordered by a number of wetlands, marshes and lagoons, particularly in and
around the Nile river delta area. Suitable combination of satellite data and ground
observations can be used to draw elements for the systematic monitoring of these
water bodies at large, regional, space scales and over long, decadal, time periods.
The present review—focusing on the major lagoons of northern Egypt (see the next
section, and Fig. 19.1 in particular, for a description of the main water bodies in this
region) and the adjacent marine area—will cover the key issues involved in using
M. Ahmed ()
Marine Sciences Department, National Authority Remote Sensing
and Space Sciences, Cairo, Egypt
e-mail: mahahmed.narss@yahoo.com
V. Barale
European Commission, Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra, Italy
V. Barale, M. Gade (eds.), Remote Sensing of the African Seas,
379
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8008-7_19,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Satellite Surveys of Lagoon and Coastal Waters
in the Southeastern Mediterranean Area
Mahmoud Ahmed and Vittorio Barale
Abstract Satellite observations provide elements about the environmental status of
the major lagoons in northern Egypt (i.e. Lakes Maryut, Edku, Burullus, Manzala
and Bardawil) and the adjacent marine area off the Nile River delta, in the southwestern Mediterranean region. Examples are shown of data collected by various sensors
onboard the Landsat, Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) and EgyptSat-1
satellite series, and by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The
remote sensing-derived parameters (e.g. lagoon size, aquatic vegetation patterns
and other water quality parameters) allow to evaluate evolution and degradation of
the near-coastal water bodies in the last four decades. The basic ecosystem indicators delivered by the satellite surveys are considered important contributions for the
establishment of a sound decision-making process for environmental management
purposes, aiming to ensure protection of natural systems and sustainability of human
activities.
19.1 Introduction
The coast of northeastern Africa, in the southern Levantine Basin of the Mediterranean Sea, is contiguous to and influenced by vast desert areas. However, it is
also bordered by a number of wetlands, marshes and lagoons, particularly in and
around the Nile river delta area. Suitable combination of satellite data and ground
observations can be used to draw elements for the systematic monitoring of these
water bodies at large, regional, space scales and over long, decadal, time periods.
The present review—focusing on the major lagoons of northern Egypt (see the next
section, and Fig. 19.1 in particular, for a description of the main water bodies in this
region) and the adjacent marine area—will cover the key issues involved in using
M. Ahmed ()
Marine Sciences Department, National Authority Remote Sensing
and Space Sciences, Cairo, Egypt
e-mail: mahahmed.narss@yahoo.com
V. Barale
European Commission, Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra, Italy
V. Barale, M. Gade (eds.), Remote Sensing of the African Seas,
379
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8008-7_19,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014