62 
Field observations show clearly sand deposition between 
detached break waters and the coast (Tombolos) whereas 
the neighboring areas in the eastern side are suffering from 
severe erosion. Settlement collapse, removal of sand 
beaches, and land degradation are common features in 
many sites of the coastal region. 
In this context, (Frihy, 1997) added some other indicators 
for sediment transportation along the coast, which includes: 
a) changes in shoreline orientation where certain areas 
erode while adjacent areas accrete such as headlands and 
promontories. b) deflection of the mouths of rivers and 
streams, c) longshore growth of sand spits, and d) 
variation of sediment pattern, including changes in grain 
sizes and mineralogy. 
3.4. Sea level rise 
The impact of sea level rise, due to global warming, on 
coastal changes has been introduced and discussed by 
many authors. Sea level measurements using the altimeters 
of space satellites; however reveal that the sea level of the 
eastern part of Mediterranean is relatively lower than that 
of the western one, due to the high rate of evaporation that 
occurs due to the relative high temperature in north east 
Africa. The differences between water losses by 
evaporation (92,000 M m°S') and that gained by 
precipitation (33.000 M m’S™) and other sources including 
rivers runoff and the Black Sea (38.500 M mS!) is 
compensated by inflow from the Atlantic Ocean through 
Gebraltar in the form of strong wave current parallel to the 
African Coast from the west ot the east causing severe 
erosion on the promontories and headlands along the 
coastal region, ESA (1997). 
3.5. Sand dune encroachment 
Movement of sand dunes in the study area has been 
investigated using satellite images and field 
measurements. Accordingly, the following may be 
concluded: 
a) The rate of sand dune movement in Gamasa area is 
about 3-8 m/yr, and in Baltiem area is 1-2 m/yr. 
b) It is not recommended to remove or to level the sand 
dunes along the northern side of the international 
coastal road. These dunes act as a protection line for 
the rest of the Delta. It could be stabilization by 
cultivation as it is. 
c) Touristic developments should be encouraged in 
Gamasa area due to the positive activities of sea-land 
interaction (land gain). The existing sand dunes have 
a high water resource potentiality that can be used for 
production of different crops without any leveling 
practices. 
d) Continuous addition of sand to the eastern side of 
Balteim beaches is becoming a must due to the high 
rate of erosion. 
e) Wave breaks should continue to Kotchemer drain site 
to reduce the impact of wave current in coastal 
erosion. 
f) Establishment of fish farms should be controlled due 
to their negative impact on soil productivity of the 
surrounding areas. 
4. CONCLUSION 
Aerial photographs have been used to produce a 
geomorphological map of the study area, which represents 
the only remaining desert district in the northern part of the 
Nile Delta. The study area extends for some 140 km along 
the coast between Gamasa and Baltiem towns. The region 
is subjected to an extensive erosional and depositional 
processes either inland or in the interference zone between 
the sea and the coast. The main geomorphic units include; 
beach, sandy plain, dunes, wetland, sabkha and evaporate 
crusts. 
The changes in land use-land cover have been monitored 
using two sets of satellite images namely; a) Landsat TM 
of 1990 and, b) SPOT XS of 1995. Coastal changes and 
sand dune encrochment on the urban and cultivated lands 
have been investigated. The impact of sea level rise on 
coast degradation has been also discussed. 
REFERENCES 
Abdel Rahman, S. 1996. The utilization of 
geoinformation technology for sustainable 
development in Egypt (discussion paper)-Adhoc 
Expert Meeting on Guidelines for natural resources 
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El-Asmar, H. and Attia, G. 1996. Diagenetic trends in 
Quaternary coaral reef terraces, Ras Mohammed- 
Sharm El Sheikh Coast, Southern Sinai, Egypt. Sed. 
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El-Asmar, H.M. 1994. Eolianite deposition as an evidence 
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1, p. 379-400. 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 7, Budapest, 1998