SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF COASTAL EROSION IN THE NIGER DELTA

Abstract

The coastline of the Niger Delta, which stretches some 395 km, consists largely of erodible barrier islands comprising sediments at different levels of densification and consolidation. Both long-term and short-term forces are exerted on the coastline leading to substantial temporal and spatial shifts in its configuration. By overlaying satellite imageries from Landsat TM, of two epochs (1963 and 1989/90), it was shown that large sections, up to 75% of the coastline are either eroding or accreting, with only about 25% of the entire length in relatively stable conditions. Anthropogenic activities which have influenced discharge and sediment transport, such as canals, river bed dredging, harbour protection works and impoundment in upstream dams and reservoirs are implicated as major causes of accelerated coastal erosion.


KEY WORDS: Coastline, Erosion, Sedimentation, Niger Delta


Global Jnl Geological Sciences. Vol.2(1) 2004: 79-90