Impact of Sea Level Rise on the Nile delta,Egypt

Sea level rise slr is one of the main impacts expected due to climate change with slr predictions over the next decades vary from 0.3 to 2.0 m. the nile delta is vulnerable to flooding due to slr and it is essential to understand the impacts of any expected- slr on the delta. this study attempts to understand the impacts on existing coastal systems,infrastructures and properties and suggests some long-term adaptation measures. an inundation model is developed using geographic information system gis accounting for connectivity with the sea or lakes,with digital elevation model as the main input. topographic maps of scale 1:25,000 are digitized together with the surveying of key features that are not included in the original maps. the impact of slr is assessed by producing maps for the inundated areas due to a 0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0 and 2.5m slr. the study shows that initially the water will mainly enter the low areas from the coastal lakes manzala and burrullus. the embankment surrounding the salam canal will protect the areas behind it till a level of about 1.0m. finally,vulnerability maps are produced based on the expected slr and the activities in these areas.