The application of GIS and remote sensing for coastal management

Abstract

Malta, being an island-state, requires good management of its environmental resources in order to ensure socio-economic success. The coastal zone is threatened by a number of marine pollution hazards, which may be associated with a range of coastal activities. Eutrophication is a common problem in nutrient enriched coastal waters and therefore investigating primary productivity (chlorophyll a concentration) as an index of eutrophication could identify the coastal areas which are at risk. The objectives of this study were to produce chlorophyll a colour-coded maps from Landsat satellite imagery and marine data measurements, observe any patterns of low or high concentrations and investigate the possible cause of these patterns using the Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Any seasonal variations in chlorophyll levels were also investigated.