Abstract
Yanbu is the second largest port and population settlement on the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast. With the increasing development of its nearby coast, the geomorphological characteristics of the region must be studied in detail in order to inform future developments of the region. This study examines the region’s suitability for future development. A high-resolution map of the coastal area under study was drawn by analysing Shuttle Radar Topography Mission-Digital Elevation Model (SRTM-DEM) data and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer-Digital Elevation Model (ASTER-DEM) data, using remote sensing images from Landsat satellites. Landsat ETM+ images taken in 2000 and 2015, alongside remote sensing analyses, field observations, and geological mapping, were used to describe the geomorphological and topographical characteristics of the Yanbu coast. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and false colour composite (FCC) were the most effective remote sensing techniques for mapping the geomorphological characteristics of the coastal plain. The true colour of the combination bands 3, 2, and 1 was the best at showing the areas and features of coral reefs. Thus, the main geomorphological units in the study area were identified, including wadi systems, dunes, alluvial fans and fan deltas, fluvial terraces, sabkhas, coral reefs, platform reefs, islands, sharms, and sea heads.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abboud IA, Nofal RA (2017) Morphometric analysis of wadi Khumal basin, western coast of Saudi Arabia, using remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Afr Earth Sci 126:58–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2016.11.024
Abu Al-Kheir YMS (1993) Geomorphological models of the pioneers of the sand sea in Saudi Arabia, the frame of reference, problem and solution. King Saud University Journal 5(2):603–629 (in Arabic with English abstract)
Al-Saifi MM, Qari MY (1996) Application of Landsat thematic mapper data in sabkhastudies at the Red Sea coast. Int J Remote Sens 17(3):527–536
Bahafzullah A, Fayed LA, Kazi A, Al-Saify M (1993) Classification and distributionof the Red Sea coastal sabkhas near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Carbonates Evaporites 8(1):23–38
Baroudi MS (1990) Geomorphology of Shroum on the East Coast of the Red Sea. Publication of the Research and Translation Unit of the Kuwaiti Geographical Society, No. 133. (in Arabic with English abstract)
Blanchard S, Rogan J, Woodcock DW (2010) Geomorphic change analysis using ASTER and SRTM digital elevation models in Central Massachusetts, USA. GIScience and Remote Sensing 47(1):1–24. https://doi.org/10.2747/1548-1603.47.1.1
Braithwaite CJR (1987) Geology and geography of the Red Sea Region. In: Key environments: the Red Sea. Edwards AJ and Head SM (eds.), Pergamon Press, p. 22–44
Clio AHA, El-Sheikh MI (1986) North coast nebka in Kuwait: geomorphological study. Unit of Research and Translation, Department of Geography, University of Kuwait, Kuwait Geographical Society, Special Issue 12:124 (in Arabic with English abstract)
El-Hassan IM (2007) Digital image processing in remote sensing. Research report no. 6/427. Research Center, College of Engineering, KSU, Riyadh. (in Arabic with English abstract)
Fnais MS, Abdelrahman K, Al-Amri AM (2010) Microtremor measurements in Yanbu city of Western Saudi Arabia: a tool for seismic microzonation. Journal of King Saud University-Science 22(2:97–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2010.02.006
Jaunzeme I, Kaļinka M, Reiniks M, Kaminskis J (2015) Analysis of land cover change in a coastal area using remotely sensed data to cite this article. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2nd International Conference on Innovative Materials, Structures and Technologies IOP publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/96/1/012040
Kaliraj S, Chandrasekar N, Ramachandran KK (2017) Mapping of coastal landforms and volumetric change analysis in the south west coast of Kanyakumari, South India using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences 20(2):265–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrs.2016.12.006
Kuleli T, Guneroglu A, Karsli F, Dihkan M (2011) Automatic detection of shoreline change on coastal Ramsar wetlands of Turkey. Ocean Eng 38(10):1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2011.05.006
Lillesand TM, Kiefer RW (2000) Remote sensing and image interpretation, 4th edn. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York, 724 p
Millaresis GC, Argialas DP (2000) Extraction and delineation of aluvial fans from digital elevation models and Landsat thematic mapper images. Photogramm Eng Remote Sens 66(9):1093–1101
Moufaddal W, Rifaat AE (2006) Identifying geomorphic features between Ras Gemsha and Safaga, Red Sea Coast, Egypt, using remote sensing techniques. Journal of King Abd Al-Aziz University (JKAU)- Science 17:105–128
Morton RA (2002) Coastal geoindicators of environmental change in the humid tropics. Environ Geol 42:711–724
Nofal R, Abboud IA (2016) Geomorphological evolution of marine heads on the eastern coast of Red Sea at Saudi Arabian region, using remote sensing techniques. Arab J Geosci 9:163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2234-4
Pemberty JFP (2002) Assessment of morphodynamic processes and soil pollution as indicators of land degradation. A case study in the Tabernas area, southeastern Spain. M.Sc. Thesis, International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, ITC, Enschede, Netherlands, 132 p
Potts LV, Akyilmaz O, Braun A, Shum CK (2008) Multi-resolution dune morphology using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and dune mobility from fuzzy inference systems using SRTM and altimetric data. Int J Remote Sens 29(10):2879–2901. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160701408352
Purser BH (1985) Coastal evaporite systems. In: Friedman GM, Krumbein WE (eds) Ecological studies, 53: Hypersaline ecosystems. Springer, Berlin, pp 77–102
Rao DP (2002) Remote sensing application in geomorphology. Trop Ecol 43(1):49–59
Rasul NMA, Stewart ICF (eds.) (2015) The Red Sea. The formation, morphology oceanography and environment of a young ocean basin. Springer, 638 p
Sabtan A, Al-Saify M, Kazi A (1995) Moisture retention characteristics of coastal sabkhas. Q J Eng Geol 28:37–46
Santiesteban IA (2003) Multi-sensor image fusion applied to morphodynamics of coastal environments in Belize. M.Sc. Thesis, International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, ITC, Enschede, Netherlands, 157 p
Shalaby A, Tateishi R (2007) Remote sensing and GIS for mapping and monitoring land cover and land-use changes in the northwestern coastal zone of Egypt. Appl Geogr 27(1):28–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2006.09.004
Sharma VK (1986) Geomorphology: earth surface processes and forms. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi, 244 p
Sheppard CRC, Davy SK, Pilling GM, Graham NAJ (2018) The biology of coral reefs. Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, Science, 384 p, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198787341.001.0001
Singh A (1989) Digital change detection techniques using remotely-sensed data. Int J Remote Sens 10(6):989–1003
WGS84 (1984) World Geodetic Survey 1984, Standard model of the earth used frequently in GISci and the model on which most GPS operate (see Chapter 2) – Field Techniques Manual: GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing. Section A: Introduction, Chapter 2: the Geographical Framework, p 1–20. See this Link: https://www.rgs.org/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?nodeguid=520b1341-776e-46c1-9431-7031a3c55a77&lang=en-GB , and this Link: https://www.linz.govt.nz/data/geodetic-system/datums-projections-and-heights/geodetic-datums/world-geodetic-system-1984-wgs84. Accessed 24 Dec 2017
Yulianto F, Suwarsono, Maulana T, Khomarudin MR (2019) Analysis of the dynamics of coastal landform change based on the integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques: implications for tidal flooding impact in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia. Quaestiones Geographicae 38(3):17-29, Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań. https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2019-0025
Acknowledgements
This research has been sponsored by a grant from Taibah University, Department of Geology and Geography, Yanbu Branch. The study has been carried out under a supported research project No. 7035, 2015 (08/02/1436).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Biswajeet Pradhan
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abboud, I.A., Nofal, R.A.E. Using remote sensing techniques to interpret geomorphological features along the east coast of the Red Sea, at Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 13, 652 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05635-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05635-w