Studying the Relationship between Fish Kill Phenomenon and Biophysical Indicators in Kuwait Bay Using RS and GIS Techniques PDF

Keywords

Kuwait Bay, fish kill, Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), biophysical indicators.

Abstract

The study focuses on examining Fish kill Phenomenon using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques to investigating relationships between biophysical indicators (SST, PH, DO, chlorophyll, ammonia, phosphate) in Kuwait Bay. The study was based on analyzing two satellite images Landsat-TM, taken in 1999 and 2003 and the database composed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) marine data/observations taken in August, September, and October of 1999,2000 and 2001. The methodology consists of four phases: 1) a geographical study of Kuwait Bay; 2) statistical analysis of the biophysical indicator database; 3) satel1ite imagery processing using RS techniques; and finally 4) Integration of RS results with biophysical indicator database using GIS techniques. The first phase revealed that Kuwait Bay has suffered from many environmental challenges. Phase two pointed out that SST has exceeded the maximum standard average, while DO at the opposite exceeded the minimum standard average. The third phase, analyzing images using ERDAS Imagine software, produced two land use!cover maps for 1999 and 2003 with statistical inventory of land use. Changes occurrINGed between 1999 and 2003 were estimated using ArcGIS software. The same process was replased using image differencing technique, proving deep water areas have decreased and shallow water areas increased in the south of Kuwait Bay. These specific areas are characterized also by high SST and low DO, and simultaneously correspond to locations of fish kill accidents happening in 1999 due to "Red Tide" and in of 200 1 due to "Streptococcus Bacteria". In conclusion, the study proved integrating GIS and RS techniques, along with biophysical indicators suitable for handling and monitoring the fish kill phenomenon in Kuwait Bay.