Natural Resources Assessment and Sea Level Rise Impact Using GIS and RS for North Alexandria and Kafr El Dawar District, Egypt

Timely and reliable information on soils with respect to their nature, extent, spatial distribution is very crucial for optimal utilization of available natural resources on a sustained basis. The technological advances in the field of remote sensing, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have augmented the efficiency of soil survey. The management of resources on sustainable basis emphasis the overall development of the region without diminishing the environment. The integrated use of advanced computer technologies with database can be used to assist decision makers for future plans. The study area covers an area of 55872.098 ha, divided between Alexandria Governorate (8789 ha.) and Kafr El Dawar District, El Behira Governorate (47083.098 ha.). The agricultural land cover an area about 48142.124 ha, and the urban area occupy about 7729.97 ha. One hundred and four soil profiles were dug to characterize soil prosperities of the study area. One hundred forty-four water samples were collected from different irrigation, drainage network and water table to evaluate the quality of water in the study area. Impact of sea level rise for 50 cm and 100 cm on the natural resource was also investigated in the study area. The results shows that the study area consists of fourteen soil mapping units; the largest one was slightly saline, deep, high clay, calcareous which covered 24.8% of the total area and the smallest one was extremely saline, deep, clay, non calcareous which covered about 0.76% of the total area. The analysis of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) indicated that the elevations ranged between < -20 m A.S.L. to < 60 m A.S.L. The main elevation from -20 m A.S.L. to -5 m A.S.L. covers an area about 29.71% of the total area. The analysis of sea level rise shows that 0.5 m increasing in sea level will submerged about 85.73 % of the total area. If the sea level rise increase to 1 m, 90.73 % of the study area will submerged. Most of the study area about 39096.52 ha. was classified as (C1), which indicated high capability with no limitations followed by (C2 t, Ca), which indicated moderately capability with soil texture and calcium carbonate content as limiting factors and covered an area about 7496.33 ha. followed by (C2, Ece), which indicated moderately capability with soil salinity as limiting factor.