K. N. Afzali; R. lak
Abstract
United Arab Emirate has recently started to build some artificial islands in the southern part of the Persian Gulf. Constructing of these Islands, such as each marine structure, have special effects on the morphology of the sedimentary Basin. This investigation focused on the documentation of morphological ...
Read More
United Arab Emirate has recently started to build some artificial islands in the southern part of the Persian Gulf. Constructing of these Islands, such as each marine structure, have special effects on the morphology of the sedimentary Basin. This investigation focused on the documentation of morphological and environmental effects of making artificial islands by the UAE in the Persian Gulf. This research is based on remote sensing studies and sedimentology investigation. Remote sensing studies carried out with comparing satellite data related to 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2008. Sedimentology investigation of the three sediment samples taken from the coastal part of the artificial islands was carried out. The deliberations indicate that construction of these islands have negative effects on geomorphological features in coastal part of the Persian Gulf in UAE region. The Sedimentation around the islands leads to the reduction of water depth. The kind of the sediment is usually carbonates and their origin in the western part of the islands is affected by marine longshore currents. However, there are two sources proposed for the sediments in the eastern part of islands; intrabasinal (direct precipitation) and detrical. The construction of linear barriers along the coast leads to the building of restricted lagoons between the coast and barriers. It is estimated the rate of progradation of the coast (sea ward migration of the shoreline) is 120 m from 2008 to 2009.