Abstract
Jizan is one of the Saudi Arabian coastal cities endowed with diverse natural settings, which includes Ash Shuqayq in the north, Turfah in the centre and Jizan in the South. This work analysed specific environmental characteristics, such as spits, sabkhas and wadis. Assessments used Landsat imagery to examine coastal change between 1973 and 2011. The cumulative temporal change identified regression trends given by coefficients of determination that explained a significant percentage of data variation for Jizan (R-2 = 69%) and Turfah (R-2 = 72%), while Ash Shuqayq was insignificant ( R-2 = 14%). Inter-survey results predicted future change, although trends were not significant, i.e. Jizan (R-2 = 22%), Turfah (R-2 = 14%) and Ash Shuqayq (R-2 = 3 and 61% with outlying value removed). Aerial photos showed regional coastal changes, which included a maximum accretion of 36.4 m and maximum erosion of 12.9 m. These are scientifically effective techniques to monitor regional coastal change, i.e. erosion and accretion and identified rates of 0.59, 1.80 and 3.53 myr(-1) for Ash Shuqayq, Turfah and Jizan.