Shoreline Dynamics of the Nile, Indus, and Yellow River Deltas: Analyzing Historical Changes and Influencing Factors

Deltas are dynamic systems that form rich, fertile, and densely populated areas. The Nile, Indus, and Yellow River deltas are historically and culturally important and have experienced severe erosion and land loss over the last 50 years. However, the causes of these losses were not always clear, especially the role of natural and human factors in the evolution of these deltas. To address this issue, we analyzed 50 years of satellite data (1972–2022) using Landsat imagery and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to assess historical shoreline changes. Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) and End Point Rate (EPR) were calculated to assess erosion and accretion rates. The results show that the Nile Delta lost around 27 km² in the first 25 years (1972–1997), largely due to reduced water and sediment from dams. However, management practices, such as seawalls and breakwaters, slowed shoreline retreat in the last 25 years, reducing the loss to only 3 km². We find that the Indus Delta lost about 300 km² over the last 50 years due to dam construction and excessive water consumption. In contrast, the Yellow River Delta accreted about 500 km² of land (1973–1996) but has lost approximately 200 km² since then. In summery, the three deltas have been heavily impacted by human activities and will continue to lose land due to population growth, climate change, and sea level rise. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the impacts of human activities and the role of coastal management practices.