APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN MONITORING DREDGING IMPACTS ONTHE NIGER DELTA COASTAL ENVIRONMENT*

摘要

The Niger Delta is a major geomorphic feature in the Nigeria coastalzones. It is a low-lying area that covers 25,640 square kilometres ofsouthern Nigeria, with a coastline of nearly 120miles. This Delta is thelargest in Africa and the 3rd largest delta in the world. Nutrient richsedimentary deposits feed the flood plain from the Niger and Benue River.This oil rich zone has one of the largest concentrations of biodiversity onthe continent. Niger Delta stretches from the Benin river estuary for about450km eastward and terminates at the mouth of the Imo River estuary.This Delta flood plain is a prolific oil-producing area where major oildiscoveries have been made. With the establishment of National SpaceResearch and Development Agency (NASRDA), advances in remotesensing, space science and technology - related activities will contribute tothe developmental efforts in the Niger Delta. Dredging impacts pose apotential environmental threat to surface water bodies through theexchange of ground – water borne contaminants. Many of these sites arelocated adjacent to estuaries, wetlands and other sensitive coastalenvironments. Due to the impacts of dredging on the Niger Delta CoastalEnvironment, most especially the destruction of the ecosystem, advancedtechnology in micro-satellite (operating in low earth orbit) for monitoringdredging impacts cannot be overemphasized.