Mapping the impacts of projected sea-level rise on Cultural heritage sites in Egypt: Case study (Alexandria)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City

2 Environmental studies division, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences

Abstract

Alexandria is the second big city in Egypt that poses the main seaport and acts as an important industrial hub, providing 40% of the country’s industrial output. Moreover, its coast is the home to large number of summer tourism, and cultural heritage sites. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and many studies Alexandria will be exposed to sea level rise that leads to sever coastal erosion and flooding. This will lead to major impacts on infrastructure, beaches and cultural heritage sites.
This research study investigates the status and vulnerability of five cultural heritage sites at Alexandria under four SLR scenarios based on the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The mean projections of RCP 8.5 for 2046–2100 and SSP5 2081-2100 and SLR 2m are used in this research study. Then will be mapped using remote sensing and GIS techniques. As indicators for the pressure on future cultural heritages, we estimate the area loss and percentage of each cultural heritage sites. In addition to display the mitigation and adaption actions to reduce this risk such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plans and projects. Results highlight need to increase these sites adaptive capacity, by implementing legislative reforms and incorporating climate change adaptation strategies as a fundamental approach in cultural heritage management.

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