Shoreline monitoring at Al Hawasina Tidal inlet using remote sensing and GIS techniques

One of the most effective means of monitoring the cumulative effects of natural processes and human activities on the shoreline is to study the patterns of shoreline change over time. An attempt has been made to study the long term shoreline change along the Batinah, Sultanate of Oman, at the tidal inlet at Hawasina. The preliminary study shows that, Al Batinah coastline is generally stable except where costal constructions like harbours, corniches, ports etc., are present. Remote sensing and GIS techniques are widely used in the field of coastal geomorphology, because they provide the best sources to study the long term shoreline changes. Rapid shoreline changes at Hawasina wadi mouth has been noticed from aerial photographs and satellite images from 1999 to 2003. The wadi mouth is now completely blocked after the construction of recharge dams for Wadi Hawasina and Wadi Bani Umar in 1995. There has been no discharge to the sea after the construction of the dams. Also the beach profiles of this area show accretion close to the wadi mouth and erosion further away from it along shore sediment transport direction changes with seasons.