Assessment of coastal sensitivity to non-eustatic sea level rise: a case study on Muscat coast—Sultanate of Oman

Muscat metropolitan area holds the major urban masses and capital investments in Oman. The shoreline significantly varies in its geomorphology, slope, width, land use, and ecosystems. As tsunamis and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean are frequent, coastal inundation by sweater is inevitable and losses of lives, infrastructures, and ecosystems are expected. The current study attempts to assess the susceptibility of Muscat coast to the sudden sea level rise caused by tsunami waves and tropical cyclones using a weighted coastal sensitivity index (CSI). Data extraction and processing were carried out using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Results showed that the coast is highly vulnerable to flooding for about 101 km (40%). Demographic data analysis, unfortunately, reveals that at least 400,000 persons are under the direct influence of this natural hazard. On the other hand, low susceptible coastal segments account for 113 km (47%). The CSI provides an objective technique for the evaluation of coastal vulnerability to sea level rise.