Atmospheric mesoscale conditions during the Boothbay meteotsunami: a numerical sensitivity study using a high-resolution mesoscale model

The article aims to test the sensitivity of high-resolution mesoscale atmospheric model to fairly reproduce atmospheric processes that were present during the Boothbay Harbor meteotsunami on 28 October 2008. The simulations were performed by the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model at 1-km horizontal grid spacing by varying initial conditions (ICs) and lateral boundary conditions (LBCs), nesting strategy, simulation lead time and microphysics and convective parameterizations. It seems that the simulations that used higher-resolution IC and LBC were more successful in reproduction of precipitation zone and surface pressure oscillations caused by internal gravity waves observed during the event. The results were very sensitive to the simulation lead time and to the choice of convective parameterization, while the choice of microphysics parameterization and the type of nesting strategy (one-way or two-way) was less important for reproducibility of the event. The success of the WRF model appears limited to very short-range forecasting, most advanced parameterizations, and very high-resolution grid spacing; therefore, the applicability of present atmospheric mesoscale models to future operational meteotsunami warning systems still has a lot of room for improvements.     

Tidal influence on high frequency harbor oscillations in a narrow entrance bay

High frequency sea level oscillations at Wells Harbor (Maine, Northeastern US), with periods in the range of several tens of minutes, display a tidally modulated response. During low tides, these sea level oscillations reach amplitudes of 10–20 cm, while during high tides they are significantly smaller. Wells Harbor is located in a low lying area with a tidal range of about 2 m and is connected to the open ocean through a narrow channel. Thus, the extent and depth of the bay significantly vary over a tidal cycle. This changing geometry determines both the resonant periods and the amplification factor of the bay. Numerical results confirm the link between observed variability and these specific topographic features. Results imply that when exceptionally energetic long waves reach the Wells Harbor entrance (as in the case of a tsunami or meteotsunami) the expected response will be significantly stronger during low tide than during high tide. Although mean sea level would be lower in the former case, the currents inside the bay would be stronger and potentially more dangerous. This tidally modulated response could be extrapolated to other sites with similar topographic characteristics.     

Synoptic features and environmental conditions of the tornado outbreak on March 22, 2013 at Brahmanbaria in the east-central region of Bangladesh

This study evaluates the synoptic features and environmental conditions of Brahmanbaria tornado event that caused 36 fatalities, 388 injuries and huge damages of properties on 22 March, 2013. Various factors for initiation of that terrific event are investigated through analysis JRA-55 reanalysis (50 km horizontal resolution) data and Multi-functional Transport Satellite images by Japan Meteorological Agency. In addition, radar images, radiosonde data and three hourly synoptic data of Bangladesh Meteorological Department are used to verify the reanalysis data. The genesis of the tornadic storm is identifiable in the most unstable part of the study region. The satellite observations are found to useful to identify the location of convection occurrence region. The half hourly satellite images identify that the convection initiation started at the convergence area and the systems intensify and organize by the continuous moisture supply from the Bay of Bengal. Lower-level convergence coupled with strong wind shear and humidity gradient lift moist air aloft to trigger deep convection and the severe storm occurred. Energy Helicity Index seems a good predictor parameter for this specific case study.     

Landslide susceptibility mapping using precipitation data,Mazandaran Province,north of Iran

A tropical cyclone was formed over central northern Africa near Egypt, Libya and Crete, and it moved and deepened toward the north–northeast; meanwhile, the storm destroyed many regions in the west, southwest and central of Turkey. The cyclone carried huge dust from the north of Africa to Turkey and reduced the visibility to less than 1 km and raised the wind speed. As a result of severe storm, some meteorological stations have new extreme values that the strongest wind speed measured was 81 knots in the central region of Turkey. Medicane with wind speed 81 knots especially over Turkey is a rare event. This devastating cyclone carried exceptionally very strong winds (>80 kts) with favorable conditions to follow windstorm conceptual model. The cyclone caused adverse conditions such as excessive injuries, fatal incidents and forest fires. Mesoscale vortex formed and affected particularly the middle and western regions of Turkey. The vertical thermodynamic structure of storm is compared with April values of 40 years of datasets over Istanbul. Moreover, four different winds {measurement masts} of Istanbul Atatürk Airport are used for the microscale analysis of different meteorological parameters during deepened pressure level. In addition, divergence and vorticity of stormy weather are discussed in details during the effective time period of storm by solving equations and validated using ERA-40 reanalysis. We obtained many monitoring data sources such as ground base, radar, radiosonde and satellite display the values of the intensity of wind speed caused by cyclones of tropics have revealed similarities.     

Retrieval and validation of soil moisture from FRS-1 data set of radar imaging satellite (RISAT-1)

In this work, we estimated soil moisture (SM) by using dielectric constant properties of soil with radar backscattering coefficient (bc) from simulated annealing techniques of RISAT-1 (radar imaging satellite, based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique) data. We examined the performance of simulated annealing in retrieving SM where the vegetation cover is not very high (NDVI ≈ 0.35 for wheat-dominated area on January 19, 2013).To overcome the land surface model limits on SM estimation accuracy, point measurement spatial coverage limits, and microwave remote sensing spatial-temporal sampling limits, we reduced uncertainties through a combination of these approaches. Near-surface SM measurements from the 5.35-GHz (C-band) channels of RISAT-1 were collocated against ground-truth data (collected during the flight time of RISAT-1 over the study area), to establish SAR-SM relationships for FRS-1(circular horizontal (RH) and circular vertical (RV)) data set of RISAT-1. Comparison with the limited ground-based point (total 24 points) measurements of SM content exhibited a net improvement when near-surface SM observations were assimilated. Comparison of the SM derived from the sigma naught (σ ⁰) (of RISAT-1 data set FRS-1) using the inversion algorithm with the observed measurements (using time domain reflectometry) of SM showed root mean square error of 0.24, nRMSE = 0.03, R-RMSE = 0.38, MAE = 0.63, NRMSE = 1.02, NSE = 1, d = 0.87, r ² = 0.65, and RMSE% = 12.79 for RH polarized image while RV polarized image failed each statistical test for predicting good SM with respect to the observed SM. The ability to extract additional information comes at the expense of including more measurements, especially at frequencies lower than the L-band. This approach is therefore intended for future space-borne systems.     

Forcing mechanisms of a heavy precipitation event in the southeastern Adriatic area

The aim of this study was to identify the main mesoscale features and mechanisms responsible for the generation of an extreme precipitation event as a contribution to improving the modelling of processes that produce HPEs. The event occurred during the morning hours on 22 November 2010 over the Dubrovnik coast in Croatia and the hinterland mountain range of the southern Dinaric Alps and caused severe flash floods and landslides and consequent interruption of traffic and electricity supply as well as other infrastructural damage. The analysis is geographically focused on the southern portion of the eastern Adriatic region, which is prone to relatively frequent heavy precipitation events that occur mostly in autumn. This area is one of the rainiest in Europe with expected annual amounts of precipitation greater than 5,000 mm in the mountainous hinterland. The mechanisms responsible for the formation of convection were analysed using synop measurements, satellite data and numerical experiments performed with the WRF model, which was set up at the convection-permitting resolution in the innermost domain. Satellite data were used to identify the precipitation systems and to estimate the intensity of the precipitation during the period of interest. The development of the precipitation system was connected to a strong large-scale ascent over the southern Italy and southern Adriatic due to the advection of warm air and cyclonic vorticity advection, which increases with height. The numerical simulations highlighted the essential role of a southerly low-level jet stream in the transport of warm and moist air towards the affected area. The convergence of two branches of low-level marine air favoured convection triggered over the coast and sea. Furthermore, numerical sensitivity experiments suggested that the orography of the Dinaric Alps plays an essential role in the precipitation maximum over the mountainous hinterland, but also that the orography was not the crucial factor in the heavy precipitation near Dubrovnik. This study highlights the need for a dense network of observations, especially radar measurements, to validate the simulated mechanisms and improve numerical forecasts via data assimilation.     

Real-time nowcast of a cloudburst and a thunderstorm event with assimilation of Doppler weather radar data

Extreme weather events such as cloudburst and thunderstorms are great threat to life and property. It is a great challenge for the forecasters to nowcast such hazardous extreme weather events. Mesoscale model (ARPS) with real-time assimilation of DWR data has been operationally implemented in India Meteorological Department (IMD) for real-time nowcast of weather over Indian region. Three-dimensional variational (ARPS3DVAR) technique and cloud analysis procedure are utilized for real-time data assimilation in the model. The assimilation is performed as a sequence of intermittent cycles and complete process (starting from reception, processing and assimilation of DWR data, running of ARPS model and Web site updation) takes less than 20 minutes. Thus, real-time nowcast for next 3 h from ARPS model is available within 20 minutes of corresponding hour. Cloudburst event of September 15, 2011, and thunderstorm event of October 22, 2010, are considered to demonstrate the capability of ARPS model to nowcast the extreme weather events in real time over Indian region. Results show that in both the cases, ARPS3DVAR and cloud analysis technique are able to extract hydrometeors from radar data which are transported to upper levels by the strong upward motion resulting in the distribution of hydrometeors at various isobaric levels. Dynamic and thermodynamic structures of cloudburst and thunderstorm are also well simulated. Thus, significant improvement in the initial condition is noticed. In the case of cloudburst event, the model is able to capture the sudden collisions of two or more clouds during 09–10 UTC. Rainfall predicted by the model during cloudburst event is over 100 mm which is very close to the observed rainfall (117 mm). The model is able to predict the cloudburst with slight errors in time and space. Real-time nowcast of thunderstorm shows that movement, horizontal extension, and north–south orientation of thunderstorm are well captured during first hour and deteriorate thereafter. The amount of rainfall predicted by the model during thunderstorm closely matches with observation with slight errors in the location of rainfall area. The temporal and spatial information predicted by ARPS model about the sudden collision/merger and broken up of convective cells, intensification, weakening, and maintaining intensity of convective cells has added value to a human forecast.     

The Maoxian landslide as seen from space: detecting precursors of failure with Sentinel-1 data

Post-event Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) analysis on a stack of 45 C-band SAR images acquired by the ESA Sentinel-1 satellites from 9 October 2014 to 19 June 2017 allowed the identification of a clear precursory deformation signal for the Maoxian landslide (Mao County, Sichuan Province, China). The landslide occurred in the early morning of 24 June 2017 and killed more than 100 people in the village of Xinmo. Sentinel-1 images have been processed through an advanced multi-interferogram analysis capable of maximising the density of measurement points, generating ground deformation maps and displacement time series for an area of 460 km² straddling the Minjiang River and the Songping Gully. InSAR data clearly show the precursors of the slope failure in the source area of the Maoxian landslide, with a maximum displacement rate detected of 27 mm/year along the line of sight of the satellite. Deformation time series of measurement points identified within the main scarp of the landslide exhibit an acceleration starting from April 2017. A detailed time series analysis leads to the classification of different deformation behaviours. The Fukuzono method for forecasting the time of failure appear to be applicable to the displacement data exhibiting progressive acceleration. Results suggest that satellite radar data, systematically acquired over large areas with short revisiting time, could be used not only as a tool for mapping unstable areas, but also for landslide monitoring, at least for some typologies of sliding phenomena.     

黑河流域遥感—地面观测同步试验：科学目标与试验方案

介绍了黑河流域遥感-地面观测同步试验的科学背景、科学问题、研究目标以及观测试验方案和观测系统布置.总体目标是,开展航空-卫星遥感与地面观测同步试验,为发展流域科学积累基础数据;发展能够融合多源遥感观测的流域尺度陆面数据同化系统,为实现卫星遥感对流域的动态监测提供方法和范例.以具备鲜明的高寒与干旱区伴生为主要特征的黑河流域为试验区,以水循环为主要研究对象,利用航空遥感、卫星遥感、地面雷达、水文气象观测、通量观测、生态监测等相关设备,开展航空、卫星和地面配合的大型观测试验,精细观测干旱区内陆河流域高山冰雪和冻土带、山区水源涵养林带、中游人工绿洲及天然荒漠绿洲带的水循环和生态过程的各个分量;并且以航空遥感为桥梁,通过高精度的真实性验证,发展尺度转换方法,改善从卫星遥感资料反演和间接估计水循环各分量及与之密切联系的生态和其他地表过程分量的模型和算法.由寒区水文试验、森林水文试验和干旱区水文试验,以及一个集成研究--模拟平台和数据平台建设组成.拟观测的变量划分为5大类,分别是水文与生态变量、驱动数据、植被参数、土壤参数和空气动力参数.同步试验在流域尺度、重点试验区、加密观测区和观测小区4个尺度上展开.布置了加密的地面同步观测、通量和气象水文观测、降雨、径流及其他水文要素观测网络;使用了5类机载遥感传感器,分别是微波辐射计、激光雷达、高光谱成像仪、热红外成像仪和多光谱CCD相机;获取了丰富的可见光/近红外、热红外、主被动微波、激光雷达等卫星数据.     

Detection and accuracy of landslide movement by InSAR analysis using PALSAR-2 data

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis is a radar technique for generating large-area maps of ground deformation using differences in the phase of microwaves returning to a satellite. In recent years, high-resolution SAR sensors have been developed that enable small-scale slope deformation to be detected, such as the partial block movement of a landslide. The L-band SAR (PALSAR-2) is mounted on Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2), which was launched on 24 Mar. 2014. Its main improvements compared with ALOS are enhanced resolution of as high as 3 m with a high-frequency recurrence period (14 days). Owing to its high resolution and the use of the L-band, PALSAR-2 can obtain reflective data passing through a tree canopy surface, unlike the other synthetic aperture radars. Therefore, the coherence of InSAR in mountainous forest areas is less likely to decrease, making it advantageous for the extraction of slope movement. In this study, to verify the accuracy of InSAR analysis using PALSAR-2 data, we compared the results of InSAR analysis and the measurement of the displacement in a landslide by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observation. It was found that the average difference between the displacements obtained by InSAR analysis and the field measurements by GNSS was only 15.1 mm in the slant range direction, indicating the high accuracy of InSAR analysis. Many of the areas detected by InSAR analysis corresponded to the locations of surface changes due to landslide activity. Additionally, in the areas detected by InSAR analysis using multiple datasets, the ground changes due to landslide movement were confirmed by site investigation.     

Study of cloudburst and flash floods around Leh, India, during August 4–6, 2010

Leh and surrounding region of the Ladakh mountain range in the trans-Himalaya experienced multiple cloudbursts and associated flash floods during August 4–6, 2010. However, 12.8 mm/day rainfall recorded at the nearest meteorological station at Leh did not corroborate with the flood severity. For better understanding of this event, hydrological analysis and atmospheric modeling are carried out in tandem. Two small catchments (<3 km²) were studied along the stream continuum to assess the flood characteristics to identify the cloudburst impact zones. Peak flood discharges were estimated close to the head wall region and at the catchment outlet of the Leh town and the Sabu eastern tributary catchments. Storm runoff depth is estimated by developing a triangular hydrograph by using the known time base of the flood hydrograph. This triangular hydrographs have been transformed further into storm hydrographs to gain a better understanding of the storm duration by using the dimensionless hydrograph method at selected cross sections. Storm duration is estimated by using the relationship between time to peak and time of concentration of the catchment. The peak flood estimates ranged from 122(±35 %) m³/s for Leh town catchment (2.393 km²), 545(±35 %) m³/s for Sabu eastern tributary catchment (2.831 km²) to 1,070(±35 %) m³/sec for Sabu catchment (64.95 km²). To assess the atmospheric processes associated with this event, a triple nest simulation (27, 9 and 3 km) is performed using Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system. The simulation does show the evolution of the event from August 4 to 6, 2010. Observation constraints, orographic responses, etc. make such analysis complex at such scale. Independent estimate by the atmospheric process model and the hydrological method shows the storm depth of 70 mm and 91.8(±35 %) mm, respectively, in catchment scale. Hydrological evaluation further refined the spatial and temporal extents of the cloudbursts in the respective catchments with an estimated storm depth of 209(±35 %) mm in 11.9 min and 320(±35 %) in 8.8 min occurring in an area of 0.842–1.601 km², respectively. This study shows that the insight developed on the cloudburst phenomena by the atmospheric and the hydrological modeling is hugely constrained by the spatial and temporal scales of data used for the analysis. Apart from this, study also highlighted the regular occurrence of cloudburst events over this region in the recent past. Most of such events go unreported due to lack of monitoring mechanisms in the region and weaken our ability to understand these events in complete perspective.     

Meteotsunami forecasting: sensitivities demonstrated by the 2008 Boothbay,Maine, event

To support development of a meteotsunami forecasting capability for the USA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded a project in 2011 focused on meteotsunami forecasting for the US east coast. Meteotsunami forecasting shares many similarities with traditional tsunami forecasting, though the characterization and integration of the source with numerical forecast models is much different. Given meteotsunami source characterization through atmospheric observations and models, it is conceivable that meteotsunami alerts could be issued and their impact forecasted using existing tsunami forecast models with high-resolution coastal definition. To test this, the 2008 Boothbay, Maine, meteotsunami is simulated using an atmospheric source consisting of a moving pressure disturbance coupled with a tsunami forecast model. Sensitivities of the modeled impact to the source characteristics, such as speed, wavelength, and direction, are also tested. Results show that the observed impact can be re-created through numerical modeling when the pressure disturbance period is roughly matched with the harbor resonance and observed meteotsunami period.     

How has coastal erosion affected the prehistoric settlement pattern of the boothbay region of maine?

Erosion of complex, rocky coasts has largely been neglected by geologists. Thus, a geo-archaeological study of coastal erosion was required before analysis of the prehistoric settlement pattern could be undertaken. Along the outer, wave-dominated coast of Maine, erosion is episodic, occurring when large storms raise water levels to new heights. Along the inner, tide-dominated coast, erosion occurs more frequently because unconsolidated sediments are exposed at low elevations in bedrock features. The shell midden archaeological sites of the Boothbay, Maine region are situated in the most rapidly eroding areas; therefore, it can be reasoned that localities without cultural deposits were never occupied. On the other hand, coastal erosion is widespread enough to insure that sites have been exposed to discovery by archaeological survey. Settlement pattern analysis of the study area is, therefore, not biased by differential preservation or discovery of archaeological sites.     

Development of the models to estimate particulate matter from thermal infrared band of Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper

Particulate matter concentration and assessment of its movement pattern is crucial in air pollution studies. However, no study has been conducted to determine the PM₁₀ concentration using atmospheric correction of thermal band by temperature of nearest dark pixels group (TNDPG) of this band. For that purpose, 16 Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus ETM+ images for Sanandaj and Tehran in Iran were utilized to determine the amount of PM₁₀ concentration in the air. Thermal infrared (band 6) of all images was also used to determine the ground station temperature (GST b6) and temperature of nearest dark pixels group. Based on atmospheric correction of images using temperature retrieval from Landsat ETM+, three empirical models were established. Non-linear correlation coefficient with polynomial equation was used to analyze the correlations between particulate matter concentration and the ground station temperature for the three models. Similar analyses were also undertaken for three stations in Klang Valley, Malaysia, using 11 Landsat ETM+ images to show the effectiveness of the model in different region. The data analysis indicated a good correlation coefficient R = 0.89 and R = 0.91 between the trend of the result of temperature of nearest dark pixels group b6 ? (GST b6 ? GST) model and the trend of PM₁₀ concentration in Iran and Malaysia, respectively. This study reveals the applicability of the thermal band of Landsat TM and ETM+ to determine the PM₁₀ concentration over large areas.     

Dynamic compaction evaluation using in situ tests in Sagunto’s Harbor,Valencia (Spain)

This paper presents an assessment on the use of dynamic compaction as a ground improvement technique in a port’s hydraulic fill in the new southern dock of Sagunto’s Harbor near Valencia (Spain). Soil behavior improvement was monitored by several in situ techniques such as boreholes with SPTs, DPSH, CPTU and CSWS geophysical tests. A total energy between 2188 and 3125 kN/m² (depending the area) was applied to the hydraulic fill by the dynamic compaction procedure. In situ techniques led to evaluate dynamic compaction efficiency, as well as controlling ground modifications that might cause potential damages to adjacent buildings. The dynamic compaction carried out was capable of fulfilling requirements established to use the area, that is, an average deformability modulus (E′) of 30 MPa with a minimum of 20 MPa, in a depth of 10 m. Moreover, dynamic compaction increased hydraulic fill relative density by about 75%.     

Effects of an Acute Hypoxic Event on Microplankton Community Structure in a Coastal Harbor of Southern California

Fish mortality and hypoxic events occur in many coastal and inland systems and may result from natural or anthropogenically mediated processes. The effects of consequent changes in water biogeochemistry have been investigated for communities of benthic invertebrates and pelagic metazoans. The responses of micro-plankton assemblages, however, have remained largely unstudied. The northern basin of King Harbor, a small embayment within Santa Monica Bay, CA, USA, suffered a massive fish kill in March 2011 as a consequence of acute hypoxia. Dissolved oxygen concentrations < 0.1 ml?l^?1 were measured in the northern basin of the harbor for several days following the mortality event, and a strong spatial gradient of oxygen was observed from the northern basin to waters outside the harbor. The microplankton community within King Harbor differed significantly from a diatom-dominated community present in neighboring Santa Monica Bay. The latter region appeared unaffected by physicochemical changes, induced by the fish kill, that were observed within the harbor. A trophic shift was observed throughout King Harbor from a photoautotrophic-dominated assemblage to one of heterotrophic forms, with relative abundances of bacterivorous ciliates increasing by more than 80 % in the most impacted part of the harbor. Significant changes in community structure were observed together with dramatically reduced photosynthetic yield of the remaining phytoplankton, indicating severe physiological stress during the extreme hypoxia.     

GIS-based statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of earthquake-induced landslides in the island of Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece

This is the first landslide inventory map in the island of Lefkada integrating satellite imagery and reports from field surveys. In particular, satellite imagery acquired before and after the 2003 earthquake were collected and interpreted with the results of the field survey that took place 1 week after this strong (Mw?=?6.3) event. The developed inventory map indicates that the density of landslides decreases from west to east. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of landslides was statistically analyzed in relation to the geology and topography for investigating their influence to landsliding. This was accomplished by overlaying these causal factors as thematic layers with landslide distribution data. Afterwards, weight values of each factor were calculated using the landslide index method and a landslide susceptibility map was developed. The susceptibility map indicates that the highest susceptibility class accounts for 38 % of the total landslide activity, while the three highest classes that cover the 10 % of the surface area, accounting for almost the 85 % of the active landslides. Our model was validated by applying the approaches of success and prediction rate to the dataset of landslides that was previously divided into two groups based on temporal criteria, estimation and validation group. The outcome of the validation dataset was that the highest susceptibility class concentrates 18 % of the total landslide activity. However, taking into account the frequency of landslides within the three highest susceptibility classes, more than 85 %, the model is characterized as reliable for a regional assessment of earthquake-induced landslides hazard.     

Monitoring of coal mining subsidence in peri-urban area of Zonguldak city (NW Turkey) with persistent scatterer interferometry using ALOS-PALSAR

This paper presents the results of spatiotemporal monitoring of surface subsidence over a mining area in Zonguldak Province of Turkey using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, providing maps of subsidence rates in the radar line of sight direction. A total of 18 SAR images, acquired between January 2007 and June 2010 by the Japanese Advanced Land Observing Satellite, have been used to map the surface displacements using the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry technique. The use of Phased Array Type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data has proved useful for avoiding signal decorrelation and estimating surface deformation in the heavily vegetated study region. The technique enables the monitoring of continuous small displacements over a large area. Our findings present that many Persistent Scatterers were located on the vegetation cover. The results reveal areas of ground surface subsidence up to 44 mm/year that are well correlated with the underground coal mining galleries particularly in the Gelik region where the Karadon mining galleries are present.     

Coral reefs as a tool for monitoring environmental and radiation hazards

Analysis of coral reef species enables characterization of the coral reefs and the degree to which human activities influence the reef composition. Geochemical characteristics, X-ray diffraction, and natural radionuclides analyses of four common coral reef species representing the branching and massive forms were conducted at the three areas under threat (Quseir Harbor, Safaga Harbor, and El-Esh area) along the Red Sea coast. Branching recorded higher carbonates and lower organic matter than the massive forms. Stylophora pistillata at Safaga Harbor and El-Esh area and Acropora humilis at Qusier Harbor recorded the highest carbonate percentages (96.88, 96.24, and 96.89%, respectively) meanwhile Platygyra daedalea at Safaga Harbor recorded the highest organic matter contents (5.07 and 4.91%). The highest Ca contents were observed in S. pistillata and Porites solida (65.87 and 64.87%), the highest Mg was in Acropora humilis and P. daedalea (1.06 and 0.88%) at Qusier Harbor, whilst the highest Sr was in S. pistillata and P. daedalea at Safaga Harbor. Then highest value of ²²⁶Ra recorded in A. humilis and P. solida (71 ± 3.5 Bq/kg and 63 ± 3.1 Bq/k) and ²³²Th in S. pistillata at El-Esh area may attribute to petroleum exploration activities. A. humilis and P. daedalea at Safaga Harbor recorded significant high ⁴⁰K values (505 ± 30 and 472 ± 13 Bq/kg, respectively) relative to the other localities. The low Ca and High Sr as well as the highest averages of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K at Safaga Harbor indicated that the coral reef communities were highly affected by the terrestrial inputs from phosphate shipments.